Executive Corner Executive Corner Executive Corner Executive Corner by Lynn Turner Dear Friends of Hospice,

This October, the Alberni Val-ley Hospice Society will cele-brate 28 years of service in our community. We continue to grow and learn in our ef-forts to provide quality care to those who are facing their last days and those who are griev-ing and bereaved. May I share just one letter that speaks for so many others? “I write these words with such a heart full of gratitude. My mother was graced by your loving care as she journeyed home. It is truly sacred ground, that stalwart old home, with the welcoming front porch and comforting smells. To be able to spend one’s last days in such a family environment, caring hands touching and tending, shows all of us what we can be when our best comes for-ward. May Ty Watson House

show the way and Ty Wat-son’s team of gifted caregiv-ers lead others in such a min-istry. My most amazing mother was gifted by your most loving care”. Our vision is to ensure that everyone can have this kind of care when needed the most. Thank you for your contribu-tions that give us the ability to create such an environ-ment.

A few weeks ago I was given a new book to read written by Lois Kelly. I tossed it on my stack of as yet unread summer reading to get to later. Because of a failed recipe (the blender ate the wooden spoon) and a flat tire on our wheelbarrow, I decided to make a pot of tea and, curious about the title, picked up “be the noodle be the noodle be the noodle be the noodle ----fifty ways to be a compas-fifty ways to be a compas-fifty ways to be a compas-fifty ways to be a compas-

Executive CornerExecutive CornerExecutive CornerExecutive Corner

Friends for Life Friends for Life Friends for Life Friends for Life Fundraising AppealFundraising AppealFundraising AppealFundraising Appeal

Bereavement ServicesBereavement ServicesBereavement ServicesBereavement Services Friendship Appreciation TeaFriendship Appreciation TeaFriendship Appreciation TeaFriendship Appreciation Tea

Insights Insights Insights Insights by Sharon Hillman

Community Charity of Choice Community Charity of Choice Community Charity of Choice Community Charity of Choice Fundraising Initiatives Fundraising Initiatives Fundraising Initiatives Fundraising Initiatives

2010 ATV Raffle2010 ATV Raffle2010 ATV Raffle2010 ATV Raffle

Library ResourcesLibrary ResourcesLibrary ResourcesLibrary Resources

Hospice Programs & ServicesHospice Programs & ServicesHospice Programs & ServicesHospice Programs & Services

IN THIS ISSUE

sionate, courageous, crazysionate, courageous, crazysionate, courageous, crazysionate, courageous, crazy----good caregivergood caregivergood caregivergood caregiver”. (You will need to read the book to understand the “be the noodle” part). I read it straight through!

The book is a caregiver’s guide of caring for a dying loved one, things no medical, hospice, or traditional how-to-deal with dying explains. The author shares her four month journey with her dying mother in a way that anyone who has been there will nod and smile with understanding. The book is available in our library and I dare to say that it is a must read for caregivers and everyone who has a heart for the best of end of life care. The author also reads chapters from the book on youtube and is well worth watching: www.youtube.com/user/BeThe Noodle This a defi-nite 5 Stars!

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MISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENT

The Alberni Valley Hospice Society is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to provide compassion-ate, supportive, non-medical care to persons affected by life limiting illness, death and bereavement and to educate the public about end of life, care giving, dying and

bereavement.

ALBERNI VALLEY HOSPICE SOCIETYALBERNI VALLEY HOSPICE SOCIETYALBERNI VALLEY HOSPICE SOCIETYALBERNI VALLEY HOSPICE SOCIETY

TY WATSON HOUSETY WATSON HOUSETY WATSON HOUSETY WATSON HOUSE

2649 2nd Avenue

Port Alberni BC V9Y1Z8

250.723.4478 Office

250.723.4481 Ty Watson House

Fax: 250-723-4471

Email: info@albernihospice.ca

NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER FALL ISSUE 2010FALL ISSUE 2010FALL ISSUE 2010FALL ISSUE 2010

The Alberni Valley Hospice Society/Ty Watson House will be sending out its annual “FRIENDS FOR FRIENDS FOR FRIENDS FOR FRIENDS FOR LIFELIFELIFELIFE” Fundraising Appeal Fundraising Appeal Fundraising Appeal Fundraising Appeal as an enclosure in the October 12th edition of the AV TimesAV TimesAV TimesAV Times. Since 1982 the Hospice Society has been rooted in our community and responsive to the needs of those who are facing end of life care-giving issues and bereavement. Our mandate is to deliver services that support, educate and increase the awareness of hospice palliative care, grief and bereavement. With the addition of Ty Watson House to the community, we are able to further honor individuals and their families and help to bring a gentle closure to the lives of those whose care is entrusted to us on their final journey.

The need for quality end-of-life care continues to grow; we all face the transition to death of our loved ones and ourselves. Supportive care at the end of life is not a luxury; it is an important and necessary obligation. When you receive your letter, please consider contributing to our ongoing effort of providing excellent end-of-life care. 100% of your contribution stays in our community and will help to ensure the continuation and expansion of the Alberni Valley Hospice Society’s valuable services. We look forward to your support and thank you for your kind consideration.

Friends for Life Annual Fundraising AppealFriends for Life Annual Fundraising AppealFriends for Life Annual Fundraising AppealFriends for Life Annual Fundraising Appeal

ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP APPRECIATION TEAAPPRECIATION TEAAPPRECIATION TEAAPPRECIATION TEA

Appreciation is a wonderful thing and on

September 19th we offered a warm

“Thank You” to all our volunteers for their

ongoing commitment and support of

Hospice / Ty Watson House. Our House

was pleasantly overflowing with our

treasured guests, floral arrangements,

cake and refreshments.

A special highlight of the afternoon was

the display of the lavender products pro-

duced by Robin and Maggi Ansell of Port

Alberni. Our guests were treated to sam-

ples of lavender syrup sundaes and lem-

onade. Lavender products are available

for sale in the office. Check them out!

At this time of year in some parts of our country, we begin to see the birds fly south for a long season. How do they know? How will they

know to come back? The answers are out of our hands. The processes of life go on, irrespective of our knowledge or ignorance. How

reassuring that we don't need to know, that the Creator who set the globes of the solar system spinning does know. And the birds do

come back. Can we extend the same trust to our experiences of loss and renewal? Can we watch birds go, secure in the expectation of

their return? Can we say goodbye to our loved ones — not in the expectation that they will come flying back in the Spring, but that, in

ways we cannot know, they will continue to be present to us, continue to love us, as we continue to love them?

Meditation: In the turning of the seasons, I find promise and hope.

From: “Healing After Loss, Daily Meditations for Working Through GriefHealing After Loss, Daily Meditations for Working Through GriefHealing After Loss, Daily Meditations for Working Through GriefHealing After Loss, Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief” by Martha Whitmore Hickman, New York: 1994

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Bereavement Services Bereavement Services Bereavement Services Bereavement Services contributed by Ruth McDonough

““““Don’t tell Mom she’s dying. Don’t tell Mom she’s dying. Don’t tell Mom she’s dying. Don’t tell Mom she’s dying. It’ll kill her!”It’ll kill her!”It’ll kill her!”It’ll kill her!”

“If I don’t say it, it doesn’t exist and I don’t have

to deal with it.” People often feel that the reali-

ties of dying don’t exist unless they’re dis-

cussed. Both patients and family members

want to know what to expect, but they are

afraid to ask for or share information. Their

hearts are breaking, but they fear that sharing

their feelings will make everyone around them

miserable, or that being open and vulnerable

will mean “falling apart”. So in the name of

control, they keep everything inside.

Burying our thoughts and feelings can seem

like protection, but it actually leads to isolation,

for both caregivers and patients. Silence begets

more silence, loneliness and depression. Every-

one walks around the pink hippo in the room.

The atmosphere around the dying person be-

comes artificial and silent…Silence severs the

possibility for human connection, the essential

support we all need during this difficult time.

Excerpt from “Final JourneysFinal JourneysFinal JourneysFinal Journeys” by Patricia

Callanan also author of “Final Gifts” Final Gifts” Final Gifts” Final Gifts” (both

books are available in our library).

Hospice volunteers assist patients and families

in expressing their concerns, to put into words

that which needs to be said. Volunteers help

by compassionately normalizing and validating

experiences of people feeling overwhelmed by

their circumstances; walking with patients and

families as they courageously find their way.

INSIGHTSINSIGHTSINSIGHTSINSIGHTS Sharon Hillman holds her labour of love,

“Letters from Great Grandma Nancy” a

life story of her mother-in-law, Nancy

Hillman. Sharon’s dedication is “To our

Ty Watson Angels: Please accept this

gift as a token of our deep, deep appre-

ciation for all that you did for Nancy and

for our family. This community is so

blessed to have such a caring, skilled

and dedicated team of professionals

and volunteers! Thank you!”

The Hillman Family

THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS This is the third year that the Hollies Men’s Night Golf-

ers have chosen Ty Watson House as their charity re-

cipient. $2,266 was presented to Lynn Turner who

was their guest at their recent windup dinner event.

Many thanks to Pat and Jackie Little for their kind

hospitality and generosity.

This beautiful stained glass window was designed, and

custom crafted for and gifted to our Bereavement

Office by local artisan, Patti DancePatti DancePatti DancePatti Dance. The dragon fly motif

is one of the symbols associated with Hospice.

We have a lovely children’s book for loan from our

library entitled “Water Bugs & Dragonflies: Explaining

Death to Young Children” by Doris Stickney.

2010 ATV RAFFLE 2010 ATV RAFFLE 2010 ATV RAFFLE 2010 ATV RAFFLE by Helma Swinkels

The Ty Watson House ATV raffle is held to raise funds towards the operating costs of Ty Watson House. Shortly after the Hospice House opened in 2008 we started our first ATV raffle and this year we noticed that the residents of the Alberni Valley have become quite familiar with the yearly raffle and the $20 tickets seem to sell themselves. Often we hear “It’s for a good cause”. People like to participate in our raffle, because they know where their money will be spent.

It was truly a united effort this year, with greater participation of sponsors, especially Breakers Marine and Suzuki, Helma’s “FunRaisers”, hospice members, volunteers and staff. The added option of a cash prize of $8,500 instead of the ATV encouraged more volunteers to become involved selling tickets, a trend we welcome since it has added enormously to this year’s success. We now have constructed a solid foundation for our ATV raffle. With enough people to sell tick-ets and with the great support we receive in the community, we will be able to successfully hold this major fundraiser every summer.

A heartfelt thank you to all the people involved, together we did a great job! Sustaining Ty Wat-son House is an important commitment and the result of this year’s raffle event is proof of that.

In total 1,682 tickets were sold. After deducting the costs of the raffle a little over $25,000 will go towards our bed program. This fundraiser has become an important part of the Alberni Val-ley Hospice Society raising more than $75,000 since the summer of 2008.

THE KINGSWAY HOTEL’S GREAT SPA-THE KINGSWAY HOTEL’S GREAT SPA-THE KINGSWAY HOTEL’S GREAT SPA-THE KINGSWAY HOTEL’S GREAT SPA-GHETTI SAUCE COOKGHETTI SAUCE COOKGHETTI SAUCE COOKGHETTI SAUCE COOK----OFF OFF OFF OFF

DENNIS JONSSON’S 12th ANNIVERSARY DENNIS JONSSON’S 12th ANNIVERSARY DENNIS JONSSON’S 12th ANNIVERSARY DENNIS JONSSON’S 12th ANNIVERSARY CAR WASH AND BBQ, CAR WASH AND BBQ, CAR WASH AND BBQ, CAR WASH AND BBQ,

BARCLAY HOTEL PAST TIMES SPORTS BAR BARCLAY HOTEL PAST TIMES SPORTS BAR BARCLAY HOTEL PAST TIMES SPORTS BAR BARCLAY HOTEL PAST TIMES SPORTS BAR GOLF TOURNAMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT

BOUTIQUE BELLES AMIES LADIES THIRD BOUTIQUE BELLES AMIES LADIES THIRD BOUTIQUE BELLES AMIES LADIES THIRD BOUTIQUE BELLES AMIES LADIES THIRD ANNUAL GOLF CLASSICANNUAL GOLF CLASSICANNUAL GOLF CLASSICANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY

WOMEN, “An Afternoon at the Oscars” WOMEN, “An Afternoon at the Oscars” WOMEN, “An Afternoon at the Oscars” WOMEN, “An Afternoon at the Oscars”

(Lisa Morgan’s review about her experience at the “Oscars” is written below).

Community Charity of Choice Fundraising InitiativesCommunity Charity of Choice Fundraising InitiativesCommunity Charity of Choice Fundraising InitiativesCommunity Charity of Choice Fundraising Initiatives

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We would like to convey our heartfelt grati-tude for being selected as the charity of charity of charity of charity of choice choice choice choice for a number of community-sponsored fundraising events during the past few months.

Your care, compassion and generous sup-port of the programs and services offered by Hospice / Ty Watson House are making a difference in the lives of others.

Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!

THE 2010 HOLLIES MEN’S AND LADIES’ THE 2010 HOLLIES MEN’S AND LADIES’ THE 2010 HOLLIES MEN’S AND LADIES’ THE 2010 HOLLIES MEN’S AND LADIES’

NIGHT GOLFERSNIGHT GOLFERSNIGHT GOLFERSNIGHT GOLFERS

THE KINGSWAY HOTEL MEAT & 50/50 THE KINGSWAY HOTEL MEAT & 50/50 THE KINGSWAY HOTEL MEAT & 50/50 THE KINGSWAY HOTEL MEAT & 50/50

DRAWS DRAWS DRAWS DRAWS every Tues. & Sun afternoon.

THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS THE HOLLIES MEN’S NIGHT GOLFERS (see

page 2).

SCOTIABANK AND BUSINESS LADIES SCOTIABANK AND BUSINESS LADIES SCOTIABANK AND BUSINESS LADIES SCOTIABANK AND BUSINESS LADIES

GOLF TOURNAMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT (see page 4)

An Afternoon at the “Oscars” An Afternoon at the “Oscars” An Afternoon at the “Oscars” An Afternoon at the “Oscars” by Lisa Morgan, TWH Volunteer

Dressing up at my house in anticipation of walking the red carpet in our Oscar gowns with my two sisters was such fun. We all laughed

in front of the mirror deciding who would get which pair of gloves to wear with our lovely long gowns and what color lipstick to wear for

our photo ops. Walking with an extra skip in our step we left to experience this year’s “The League of Extraordinary Women” event. Ex-

citement and anticipation filled the air as one by one the honoured guests arrived for a fun-filled and pampered day. Men in their tuxes

escorted us in and served us wine and punch. The variety of finger foods and yummy chocolate desserts were the best!

Voices filled the air as the wind blew the women’s laughter from table to table together with the sounds of live music. The yard sported

expensive cars and life-sized Oscar statutes in readiness for the photo opportunities. There was no hiding from the paparazzi as

“Stephan” (a.k.a. Helma) visited every table for a photo op

and in search of a story to publish. The guests turned into

social butterflies, purchasing tickets with the hopes of win-

ning a prize.

At the end of the day, I couldn’t help but leave feeling very

special indeed. I wore a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

I was proud to have been one of the “Extraordinary

Women”. I would like to thank the organizers — you

should all be proud of your efforts. With a skip in my step, I

can’t help but wonder what next year will bring?

“Listen carefully. You may be“Listen carefully. You may be“Listen carefully. You may be“Listen carefully. You may be the one who is confusedthe one who is confusedthe one who is confusedthe one who is confused!!!!

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HOSPICE PROGRAMS AND SERVICESHOSPICE PROGRAMS AND SERVICESHOSPICE PROGRAMS AND SERVICESHOSPICE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Hospice Palliative Care Support Hospice Palliative Care Support Hospice Palliative Care Support Hospice Palliative Care Support — Volunteer support for individuals and families who are facing a life-limiting illness. Volunteers visit at home, Ty Watson House, long-term care facilities and West Coast General Hospital.

Ty Watson House Ty Watson House Ty Watson House Ty Watson House is an in-house five-bed program for people requiring care at end of life. The resident must have a progressive life-threatening illness and require assistance caring for self. For individuals wanting to stay in their own homes as long as possible, including end of life, we offer time-limited respite care so that caregivers can have a periodic break as needed.

Counselling, Telephone Support & Bereavement FollowCounselling, Telephone Support & Bereavement FollowCounselling, Telephone Support & Bereavement FollowCounselling, Telephone Support & Bereavement Follow----up up up up —Grief support for primary caregivers of our clients at regular intervals during the first year of loss. Also open to members of the community not associated with Hospice who are experiencing a loss through death.

Bereavement Walk and Talk Bereavement Walk and Talk Bereavement Walk and Talk Bereavement Walk and Talk — A Saturday morning walk along Kitsuksis Dyke followed by socialization at a local restaurant joined by others experiencing loss.

Bereavement Support Group “Finding My Way”Bereavement Support Group “Finding My Way”Bereavement Support Group “Finding My Way”Bereavement Support Group “Finding My Way”—Topics include common reactions to grief, the feelings of grief, how to keep going, self-care plan, relaxation, journaling, hope. Call 250-723-4478 to register.

Web Support Sites: Email Support Services at Web Support Sites: Email Support Services at Web Support Sites: Email Support Services at Web Support Sites: Email Support Services at connections@albernihospice.ca connections@albernihospice.ca connections@albernihospice.ca connections@albernihospice.ca and Memorial Tribute Page at www.and Memorial Tribute Page at www.and Memorial Tribute Page at www.and Memorial Tribute Page at www.albernihospice.caalbernihospice.caalbernihospice.caalbernihospice.ca

Healing Touch and Reiki Healing Touch and Reiki Healing Touch and Reiki Healing Touch and Reiki — Offered exclusively to our palliative clients, caregivers, bereaved clients and those going through cancer therapy.

Caregivers TimeCaregivers TimeCaregivers TimeCaregivers Time----Out Group Out Group Out Group Out Group — Support for caregivers of a loved one with a life-threatening illness or a long-term debilitating illness e.g. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.

Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart: Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart: Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart: Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart:

100 practical ideas after your 100 practical ideas after your 100 practical ideas after your 100 practical ideas after your

husband or wife dieshusband or wife dieshusband or wife dieshusband or wife dies by Alan Wolfelt

Learning to cope with grief and find contin-

ued meaning in life is difficult. This book

offers 100 practical, here and now sugges-

tions for helping widows and widowers

mourn well so they can go on to live well

and love well again. Whether your spouse

has died recently or long ago, you will find

comfort and healing in this compassionate

book.

Healing Your Grieving BodyHealing Your Grieving BodyHealing Your Grieving BodyHealing Your Grieving Body----100 100 100 100 Physical Practices For MournersPhysical Practices For MournersPhysical Practices For MournersPhysical Practices For Mourners

by Alan Wolfelt and Kirby Duvall

When you are grieving, your body often

lets you know it feels distressed too. Most

people are shocked by the number of

physical symptoms that can arise after a

loss. The mind-body connection is pro-

foundly strong. This book discusses in

practical, compassionate ways how to

soothe your body as you heal your heart

and soul.

A massive amount of work is involved with

our “FRIENDS FOR LIFE” Annual Fundraising “FRIENDS FOR LIFE” Annual Fundraising “FRIENDS FOR LIFE” Annual Fundraising “FRIENDS FOR LIFE” Annual Fundraising

Appeal Appeal Appeal Appeal from the time that we receive the

materials hot off the press (8,800x4=35,200

pieces), to readying and collating all the

materials in preparation for the stuffing of

the envelopes by our volunteers. The re-

packaged materials are then returned to the

printers and redirected to the Times office in

Nanaimo to be inserted into the October

12th edition of the paper. We couldn’t have

completed all the work involved without the

able support of our volunteers and friends

from the community (the work bees turn

into a very social time with jokes and laugh-

ter filling the room!) We would also like to

thank Alison Norden and the hard-working

Grade 10 students from VAST who also

stuffed envelopes and then kindly whisked

everything back to the printers for us.

Thank you everyoneThank you everyoneThank you everyoneThank you everyone!

LIBRARY ADDITIONS LIBRARY ADDITIONS LIBRARY ADDITIONS LIBRARY ADDITIONS Our library is a comprehensive resource of supportive and educational materials

and may be accessed by volunteers, staff and members of the community.

BUSINESS LADIES GOLF TOURNAMENT BUSINESS LADIES GOLF TOURNAMENT BUSINESS LADIES GOLF TOURNAMENT BUSINESS LADIES GOLF TOURNAMENT HUGE SUCCESS FOR TY WATSON HOUSEHUGE SUCCESS FOR TY WATSON HOUSEHUGE SUCCESS FOR TY WATSON HOUSEHUGE SUCCESS FOR TY WATSON HOUSE

THE ALBERNI GOLF CLUB BUSINESS LADIES THE ALBERNI GOLF CLUB BUSINESS LADIES THE ALBERNI GOLF CLUB BUSINESS LADIES THE ALBERNI GOLF CLUB BUSINESS LADIES held their year-end golf scramble September

26th with a full field of ladies who came out to play fun golf and support Ty Watson

House with both their entry fees and by purchasing raffle tickets on the many wonderful

items donated by community sponsors. All funds raised that day were in turn matched by

SCOTIABANK SCOTIABANK SCOTIABANK SCOTIABANK and Ty Watson was the recipient of a cheque for $8,154.50!

We are deeply indebted to all the efforts of the planners and organizers notably:

Mary Larson, Suzanne Jones, Janice Cross, Kathy MacDonald, Cherie Williams, Kathy Nord-

strom, Janice Simister,

Treena Sexsmith and

the many other helpers.

Our appreciation to the Our appreciation to the Our appreciation to the Our appreciation to the

organizers, sponsors organizers, sponsors organizers, sponsors organizers, sponsors

and the participants of and the participants of and the participants of and the participants of

the Scramble.the Scramble.the Scramble.the Scramble.