Hospice of Southern Illinois

Premiere Local Hospice Provider

Social Work Month

March is National Social Work MonthSocial Work Month 2016

Today, social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, with more than 600,000 people employed in the field. Professional social workers tackle some of the toughest challenges facing our society. Social workers contribute at all levels of society, working with individuals, families, schools, universities, non-profit agencies, corporations, hospitals, and government offices to mediate conflict, foster positive relationships and create hope and opportunity for people in need.

» Social workers are the largest group of mental health care providers in the United States, helping people overcome depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other disorders so they can lead more fulfilling lives.

» The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employs more than 12,000 professional social workers. Social workers provide support to active duty military personnel, veterans and their families, helping them get financial and housing assistance, apply for benefits, get the best possible health care, or resolve marital or family issues.

» Social workers work with community organizations, legislators, the public and others to ensure equal rights for all, including women, people of different races and cultures and people who are LGBTQ.

» Medical and public health social workers provide psychosocial support to individuals, families and vulnerable populations, helping them cope with chronic, acute or terminal illnesses. They advise family caregivers and patients, helping them plan for their needs after a person comes home from the hospital.

» America’s population is aging. Social workers help older Americans get the health care and mental health care they need. They also work with older people and their families to improve their quality of life and ability to live independently as long as possible.

Source: https://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/swmonth/2016/default.asp

Hospice of Southern Illinois’ social workers help individuals and families adjust to major life challenges and changes. They work with these individuals and families to develop a plan of support, ensure the plan is put into action, and consistently follow-up with the patient and the patient’s family.  Hospice of Southern Illinois’ team of Social Workers and Bereavement Counselors provide support during the end-of-life journey and the grief experience.

  • Enhance the meaning and quality of a patient’s life
  • Develop a plan of support
  • Provide emotional support
  • Offer spiritual guidance
  • Bereavement support 13 months after the death of a loved one
  • Access to 24-hour on-call support

Learn more about our care: https://hospice.org/ourcare/grief-support/. Thank  you to Hospice of Southern Illinois’ dedicated social workers for all their help and support they provide to patient’s and their families. Another thank you to all social workers for “forging solutions out of challenges.” We appreciate social workers!!!

Hospice Helps Heart Disease Patients

IMG_2014According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Heart Disease is one of the top 4 non-cancer diagnoses for patients admitted into hospice. *Source: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s NHPCO’s Facts & Figures, Hospice Care in America – 2015 Edition. (http://www.nhpco.org/sites/default/files/public/Statistics_Research/2015_Facts_Figures.pdf)

Hospice focuses on comfort care for Heart Disease patients rather than curative treatment. Our patients’ wishes are most important. Our team will work together to create an individualized plan for the patients’  goals of care to keep symptoms managed. The interdisciplinary care team includes our full-time, on-staff Medical Director, physicians, registered nurses, social workers, hospice aides, bereavement counselors and volunteers.

Hospice of Southern Illinois Helps Heart Disease Patients With The Following (but not limited to):

  • Chest Pain
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Fatigue
  • All medications related to the life-limiting illness
  • All equipment related to the life-limiting illness
  • Access to 24-hour on-call support

If you or a loved one find yourself having questions about heart disease or other life-limiting illnesses, Hospice of Southern Illinois can help by providing information, answering questions or as a care provider, 1-800-233-1708. It is at this time that comfort care and symptom management become the primary focus and curative treatment is no longer the patient’s choice or option. We have the experience to provide the assistance you need. Learn more about how our care team can help on our website, hospice.org/our-care/.

Welcoming New Board Members

Not For Profit_35Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc. welcomes the following who have been elected to serve a three-year term on its Board of Directors: Abel Anderson of Edwardsville, IL – Vice President of the Business Banking Group at First Clover Leaf Bank in Swansea, IL; Laura Beckman of Alton, IL – Commercial Banking Officer/Vice President with Carrolton Bank in O’Fallon, IL; and Kay Mueggenburg of O’Fallon, IL – Associate Professor in the Nursing Division at McKendree University and Coordinator Palliative Care Nursing Program.
These new Board members will be valuable assets in helping Hospice of Southern Illinois continue to achieve its Mission: “to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness.”

ABEL ANDERSON

Mr. Anderson lives in Edwardsville, IL. He is the Vice President of the Business Banking Group at the First Clover Leaf Bank in Swansea, IL. He has an extensive banking background including Vice President – Commercial Relationship Manager; Vice President – Commercial Collector; Assistant Vice President- Credit Analysis; and Mortgage Originator/Retail Banker. Mr. Anderson has a B.S. in Economics from Illinois State University. His community involvement includes United Way, Habitat for Humanity (home building team 2013), Ed/Glen Chamber of Commerce; Belleville Chamber of Commerce; Metro East Regional Chamber of Commerce and O’Fallon/Shiloh Chamber of Commerce.

LAURA BECKMAN

Ms. Beckman currently is a Commercial Banking Officer/Vice President with Carrollton Bank in O’Fallon, IL. She has been with Carrollton Bank since 2010. She has a MBA and a Bachelor of Accountancy from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She has extensive experience in the banking industry. Ms. Beckman lives in Alton, Illinois. Ms. Beckman resides in Alton with her Husband (Marshall), and two sons. They are members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton. She served on the Hospice of Southern Illinois golf committee last year and is a member this year as well.

KAY MUEGGENBURG

Ms. Mueggenburg recently accepted an Associate Professor position with Washington University and Goldfarb College of Nursing in St. Louis. The position is to teach community health and build a new program for the graduate school and referral to community agencies will be part of the program. She has her PhD from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Diploma Registered Nurse (RN), Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) and a Palliative Care Fellowship from Harvard Medical School. She has extensive education experience and is a noted speaker and has several published books. She currently is a Counselor and recruitment committee chair of the McKendree Honor Society of Nursing and Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Board of Directors. Ms. Mueggenburg lives in O’Fallon, IL.

Learn more about our mission, to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness, and all of our Board of Directors: https://hospice.org/about-us/.

 

Celebrating Our 35th Anniversary in 2016

35th You have a choice     We are proud to celebrate 35 years of continuing our mission to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness. Hospice of Southern Illinois honors and remembers over 35,000 patients and families served in our 27 counties, serving southern Illinois since 1981. We started as a grass-roots volunteer movement to help individuals and their loved ones with a terminal illness live their end-of-life journey with peace and dignity. Thank you for your support and trusting your care to Hospice of Southern Illinois. There comes a time… to ask how hospice can help.
     In 2016 we will be focusing on educating the community on hospice care. Education will include the benefits of having conversations with healthcare providers about end-of-life care before it is needed, collaborating with healthcare professionals to continue providing excellent hospice care, and ensuring all Hospice of Southern Illinois’ patients are served with respect and dignity. Our multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, bereavement counselors and volunteers work together to address the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of each patient and family.
     We are proud to share a few of our milestones including:
  • Full-Time, On-Staff Medical Director to enhance patient care and provide direct access for our clinicians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Patient and Family access to on-call support and care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • We Honor Veterans Program through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and Department of Veteran Affairs
  • State of the Art Website, www.hospice.org
  • Free Educational Presentations for healthcare professionals and community groups
Hospice of Southern Illinois is your community not-for-profit hospice program serving 27 counties in southern Illinois since 1981. Our commitment at Hospice of Southern Illinois is to be with our patients and their loved ones through the changing needs of the end-of-life process and the grief experience. For more information about Hospice of Southern Illinois, visit our website, www.hospice.org, or call 1-800-233-1708.

Self Care in the New Year

To better care for your loved one, you must first remember to care for yourself. This year, consider the following to help avoid caregiver burnout. Hospice of Southern Illinois provides resources and education for caregivers to prepare for what lies ahead. We are here to support the whole family through the end-of-life journey.

For Caregivers

  • Talk with a professional
  • Ask others for help
  • Be aware of the signs of caregiver burnout: anxiety, stress, isolation, irritability, sadness, denial
  • Participate in a craft, hobby, support group, or alternative therapy like music therapy

Additional Support from Hospice of Southern Illinois

  • Provide intermittent care to help share the responsibility for caregiving
  • Medication administration and symptom management
  • Support loved ones’ end-of-life wishes with dignity
  • Assist with personal care
  • Access to 24-hour on-call support
  • Provide educational in-services at no cost to healthcare professionals

If you have questions, please call, 1-800-233-1708, to speak with someone from our compassionate team. Please visit our website, www.hospice.org.

Acknowledge HR Director on SHRM-CP

IMG_6585_smallerHospice of Southern Illinois would like to acknowledge Jami Mattison, Human Resources Director, for her recent accomplishment and certification, the Society of Human Resources Managers-Certified Professional, or SHRM-CP. The certification demonstrates to the business community that the credential-holder has strong capabilities in both aspects of HR practices, competency, and knowledge that are required for effective business performance. The Society of Human Resources Managers dates back to 1948 and is the world’s largest Human Resources membership organization. Also, prior to the SHRM-CP, Jami maintained the designation of Professional in Human Resources, or PHR, from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) since 2005. “I would like to think that the PHR and SHRM-CP designations provide a level of professionalism to the employment practices of Hospice of Southern Illinois.  I want our employees to know that my skill-set as a professional in the field of Human Resources, is to their benefit to ensure that when it comes to leadership navigation, business acumen, ethical practice, relationship management, consultation, critical education, global & cultural effectiveness, communication, as well as people, organizational, and workplace strategy, I strive to guide our leaders to ensure we are doing the right thing.”

Jami’s been passionate about human resources since 1999 and admitted law is her favorite part about her position. She deemed her professional philosophy, which has been posted on her bulletin board for the past 12 years, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are; your reputation is merely what others think you are.” It warms her heart to see someone grow within an organization to find that purpose of why they do what they do.

Jami specifically sought out a not-for-profit organization that gave back to the community after several years working in the for-profit world. She added, “After a personal experience with hospice care, I kept seeing this ad for an HR Generalist for Hospice of Southern Illinois.  So I researched the organization, and decided to apply.  After 7 years here, I’m very happy and humbled to be a part of an organization that makes such an impact on our community.” Thank you, Jami, for seven years of commitment to Hospice of Southern Illinois and to your education to better serve our employees and their families. We wish you luck pursuing future certifications related to the healthcare field, and supporting your family’s dream of having a greenhouse.

Difficult Discussions Can Be Easier

Difficult Discussions Can Be Easier

Thinking about your advance directive (i.e. healthcare decisions, end-of-life planning, and future planning) can be overwhelming and difficult. Why? No one wants to talk about something that is so far away and viewed as a scary experience. Is it so far away? Does it really have to be scary? As an end-of-life care resource, Hospice of Southern Illinois is here to share a new perspective on advance directives.

Our team sees people every day dealing with some of the most difficult decisions they may ever have to make. Difficult discussions can be easier, but an element of planning is involved. First, let’s address the questions above which refer to the “difficult part.” No one really knows when or how a person will die. Further, the topic of death doesn’t have to be scary. Talking about it doesn’t bring it closer. Talking about these topics and preparing advance directives can help ease the stress and “unknowns” of dying because it will ensure YOUR end-of-life wishes are carried out when that time comes. It will also relieve family of having to make decisions under pressure. Both pave a path for a more peaceful end-of-life journey for you and your loved ones. Next, we have provided a few suggestions for making something that seems difficult, a little easier.

  1. Start with advance directives. They can be discussed at any time and any age. Rather than discussing during a crisis, discuss it early. It’s not as scary to talk about anything before it happens.
  2. Be open-minded and be the first to open the conversation. When talking about end-of-life decisions, be positive about a long healthy life; Discuss the topics on a more regular basis; Consider the end-of-life to be a celebration of a lifelong journey, rather than an ending.IMG_4278logo
  3. Have a family dinner or schedule a meeting with a professional attorney or Hospice of Southern Illinois’ counselor. Making sure those closest to you know what your wishes are is very important. If everyone is on the same page, there will be less confusion and more collaboration.
  4. Ask some thought provoking questions while driving that are a little lighter in nature:Do you have a healthcare power of attorney and living will?
    1. Where did you go to make your plan official? Who did you talk to first about a living will and healthcare power of attorney?
    2. What are some “to-dos” on your bucket list? Usually these answers are fun things people want to accomplish. It could lead to more serious topics.
  5. Gather resources and be your family advocate. Share a Facebook Post, send a YouTube video, or send some conversation-starting questions over email.
  6. Explain to your significant other, family, or friends you are talking to how important it is to you to be able to honor their wishes, when the time comes. It is a serious topic, but if taken care of early, and correctly, the future can be less worrisome and more enjoyable.

Visit www.hospice.org for more information. For an idea to start the conversation, sign our Virtual “Before I die…” Wall, https://hospice.org/signthewall.

4 Topics To Talk About

Healthcare Decisions: 4 Topics To Talk About

When discussing healthcare decisions, there is a lot of information to be covered. Where do you start? We have put together a quick reference guide for four points that will cover the basics during your conversation about healthcare decisions. To keep the conversation open and active, don’t discuss them all at once. Spread these over several visits or social gatherings.

  1. Wellbeing: There are many serious discussion topics regarding healthcare, but sometimes individuals forget the personal element. Assessing current wellbeing can help lead us into these discussions and show respect and
    dignity for the person we are talking to. Showing compassion opens doors and may break down some barriers. For example, discussing sleep habits, stress level, nutrition, exercise, work, and social life are all very important to keep in mind because they are the fundamentals for what is needed now. Further, talking about the present can help define the future.
  2. Health: Talk about how you feel about your own health and your loved one may open up about theirs. Dicuss what your health goals are and ask about theirs. Ask them what they want you to know about their physicians and other medical information. Gather medical information such as health records and insurance cards. Place them all in one location.
  3. Legal Documents: Legal documents allow for your loved one’s wishes to be honored.
    1. Healthcare Plan-Filling out a living will and selecting a Healthcare Power of Attorney, both of which are advance directives, are very important. Make sure the selected talkingperson (agent) is willing to follow the healthcare wishes of your loved one. Ensure these documents are accessible to healthcare professionals, the person selected as the Healthcare Power of Attorney, and caregivers.
    2. Financial Plan: Having a financial plan in place and documentation of this plan that’s easy to follow, allows for better safe-keeping of information and money. Name a Financial Power of Attorney. This is a person trusted to be in charge of finances when your loved one is no longer able to. Make sure the person named is agreeable to perform in this role.
  4. End-Of-Life: There are lots of people and questions to be mindful of when having an end-of-life discussion. Communication is important between the individual and the family. Luckily the previous three topics will lead you to a smoother end-of-life discussion. Consider the following questions to get started:
    1. Who will make decisions for you when you are unable to? Will he/she be the main point of contact and who else should the information be relayed to? How will they be contacted?
    2. Are you looking for comfort care rather than curative treatments?
    3. What concerns do you have about what lies ahead?
    4. How do you want to spend your time as medical treatments become limited?
    5. Do you want to be resuscitated if your heart stops or you stop breathing? Do you know what happens during CPR?

“90% of people say talking to their loved ones about end-of-life care is important, but only 27% have actually done so,” is a statistic from the Conversation Project National Survey 2013. Contact a professional to assist you with these talking points if you want to ensure you are covering everything or begin feeling overwhelmed. To learn more about end-of-life discussions, access free resources, or to speak with one of our trained staff, please call 1-800-233-1708. Visit our website, www.hospice.org. For a detailed guide, visit www.n4a.org or www.theconversationproject.org.

References:

Let’s talk: starting the conversation about health, legal, financial and end-of-life issues. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.n4a.org/files/Conversations.pdf

The Conversation Project website. (2015). http://theconversationproject.org/

Volunteers Sew 4000 Patient Pillows

Hospice of Southern Illinois congratulates the United Methodist Church Women’s Group in Carterville, Illinois on sewing their 4,000th pillow for Hospice of Southern Illinois’ patients. IMG_4257What a milestone for this group which started sewing in 2005! We appreciate the dedication to the special touch this provides our patients.

Rita Spiller, Volunteer Services Supervisor, and Donna Cunetto, Volunteer Services Coordinator, were chatting with one of the volunteers, Oleta Massey. They di
scussed all the socialization and comradery that came about from their 10 year project and commitment to Hospice of Southern Illinois’ mission, to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness. Most importantly, Oleta added, “The pillows have proven to me to be a great idea because they are a comfort factor. Besides a practical use for them, they are a symbol of comfort and they know someone cared enough to make this pillow and provide it for them.”

Hospice of Southern Illinois is so proud of these women and their 4000th pillow milestone. We look forward to the 5000th announcement, we joked as we left the ladies continue their sewing and friendship! To date the group has made 4020 pillows. The women’s club who helped with sewing over the years included: Oleta Massey, Wilma Lampman, Carmen Elders, Betty McCree, Alice Johnson, Barb King, Bobbi Pryor, Nancy Wallace, Connie Commer and Shirley Cooper. To learn more about volunteering for Hospice of Southern Illinois, please visit our website, https://hospice.org/volunteer/.

Pictured: Oleta Massey, Wilma Lampman, Connie Commer

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