Dateline - Hospice Buffalo
Dateline - Hospice Buffalo Dateline - Hospice Buffalo
2 Dateline GRACEFUL PASSAGES Movie to Air on Television Graceful Passages – The Hospice Journals, a feature documentary film produced with Hospice Buffalo, will air on Thinkbright Television, on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008 at 9:00 p.m. Thinkbright airs locally on Time Warner Channel 21 and on digital channel 17.3 for those that have digital television. Graceful Passages offers an inside look into the poignant world of Hospice care as seen through the eyes of caregivers, patients and staff. The feature film was created by Jon R. Hand of Buffalo, an independent filmmaker who spent nearly 2 years with Hospice patients and staff. The remarkable film follows several patients and families into hospitals, homes, assisted living centers and Hospice inpatient settings. Thinkbright is operated by public television station WNED in Buffalo, New York and focuses on educators, students, families and members of the community. The channel operates “24/7” and features an innovative prime-time line-up devoted to themes. For example, Sunday evenings on Thinkbright are devoted to Family & Education. We invite our Hospice Dateline readers and others to join with your loved ones in watching Graceful Passages – The Hospice Journals. The film will be repeated on Thinkbright during 2009 and is also available on DVD by calling Hospice at 686-8070. For more information and bonus features from the film, go to www.gracefulpassagesmovie.com. William Finn, President & CEO CEO’s Message Raising the Bar For the past 30 years, Hospice Buffalo has provided exceptional care and support to more than 40,000 patients and families. Hospice Buffalo has touched our friends, neighbors and our own families when serious illness becomes life threatening, and cure is no longer realistic. Hospice became a movement to change the way people live with illness, and to bring comfort and understanding to those touched by loss. The pioneering spirit that propelled Hospice Buffalo as one of the first hospices in the United States now exists in a world class program seeking new and innovative approaches to care for persons with advanced disease. Today, Hospice Buffalo is one of the most unique programs in the country. Our passion remains strong and we are committed that no-one need live in pain, that all have the right to control their care, and that healthy and honest communication is a right, not an option. Patients have many choices today when considering the prospect of living with advanced disease. And often, hospice presents a remarkable option for living fully, comfortably, and at home. Indeed, a recent journal article highlighted the fact that patients enrolled in hospice care live 30 days longer than similar patients without hospice care. Hospice truly is about hope. In 2008, we opened the St. John Baptist/Hospice Buffalo House, the only hospice-faith based partnership of this type in the country. Our Caring Hearts Perinatal Program has received national attention as a critical support for mothers whose pregnancy will not result in a healthy child. Hospice Buffalo employs 10 physicians with more hospice and palliative care certified physicians than any hospice in the North East. Our program has the largest free-standing inpatient unit in the North East, and has routinely surpassed state and national standards for quality care at end of life. Hospice Buffalo is raising the bar as we continue to set new standards of care for Western New York and the nation. We are actively partnering with the University at Buffalo and our hospital partners to integrate palliative care training and service into acute care. Our partnerships with insurance providers are forging new venues for palliative care at home and pre-hospice care for persons with chronic disease, avoiding hospitalization and focusing on quality and comfort as disease advances. We believe that hospice can care for persons during the last year of life, not the last week. We believe hospice embraces hope and comfort, creating meaning and hope in a difficult time. We believe hospice is the way we would want to live; especially when we know it can add tremendous quality of life to our final chapter. Thank you for supporting Hospice Buffalo for the past 30 years. We ask that you continue your generosity and join with us as we create an extraordinary service to help us receive the compassionate care we will all deserve, and will need, for ourselves and those we love. William E. Finn, President and CEO
Dateline Bethany Miller leads a Life Rhythms music therapy program offered by Hospice Buffalo at assisted living residences and nursing homes. QUALITY OF LIFE Hospice Music Therapy Program On any given day, each of Hospice’s five music therapists can be found doing what they do best – improving our patients’ quality of life. Our board-certified music therapists are members of Hospice’s interdisciplinary team and are involved in assessing the strengths and needs of each client, developing a treatment plan, and implementing customized music interventions. Music therapists use both instrumental and vocal music techniques. Within our partner skilled nursing facilities, Alanna Ardito, LCAT, MT-BC; Bethany Miller, MT-BC; and Theresa Hoffman, MT-BC facilitate Life Rhythms music-making sessions for patients with various dementias. Each patient, rhythm instrument in hand, contributes to the creation of an interactive ensemble through song and improvisation. A number of families have noted that this is often the only hour of the day during which their loved one is alert and engaged. “In this setting, music therapy provides much needed sensory and cognitive stimulation, which increases or maintains a patient’s level of physical, mental, and social/emotional functioning,” states Abigail Unger LCAT, MT-BC. Abigail can be found facilitating individual, family, and group sessions with Hospice patients who reside in assisted living facilities or group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities. “Therapeutic interventions are implemented that address psychosocial issues, pain and symptom management, anxiety and relaxation, well-being, and expression. Through active engagement in music therapy, our patients experience maximized mental stimulation, increased interpersonal connections and a sense of belonging, decreased distress, as well as supported activity functioning and overall community building,” explains Abigail. As part of our Essential Care for Children team, Julie Palmer, MT-BC works with our pediatric patients and families. Music, one of the many joys of childhood, is a much needed distraction for these sick children, helping to dispel anxiety and instill a sense of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic and stressful time. Abigail notes that, “Through their active participation in music therapy, Hospice’s pediatric patients are given the opportunity to express themselves through an accessible and appropriate medium.” 3 Hospice’s music therapists also provide services to our Home Care patients. Whether sessions are held within facilities or homes, music therapists design individualized care to address specific patient needs within their overall care plan. As part of our team approach, music therapists play an essential role in Hospice’s mission to provide optimal care when it is needed the most. Music therapists are valuable members of Hospice’s interdisciplinary team approach to patient care. Last year our music therapists conducted approximately 1,500 music therapy sessions. Unfortunately, music therapy is not covered by Medicare or third party insurance and must be covered through fundraising efforts. The music therapists have a long wish list of items they would like for the program. Needs range from instruments such as maracas, bells and hand drums, to equipment for transporting and storing instruments, sheet music, and a portable sound system. If you would like to make a cash donation to support this program please call Patrick Flynn, VP of the Hospice Foundation at 686-8090. Our patients and their family members will appreciate your generosity. Alanna Ardito, board certified music therapist, with a Hospice House resident.
- Page 1: Serving individuals with serious il
- Page 5 and 6: Dateline A heartfelt thanks to the
- Page 7 and 8: Become a Hospice Helper! If your co
- Page 9 and 10: Dateline SUPPORT GROUPS Hosted by L
- Page 11 and 12: Dateline Community Events Calendar
- Page 13 and 14: Dateline HOSPICE DONOR HONOR ROLL C
- Page 15 and 16: Tribute Gifts To Hospice TRIBUTE GI
- Page 17 and 18: LIGHT-A-LIFE MEMORIAL TREE • DECE
- Page 19 and 20: GIFT GIVING ONLINE: SECURE ENCRYPTE
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2<br />
<strong>Dateline</strong><br />
GRACEFUL PASSAGES<br />
Movie to Air on<br />
Television<br />
Graceful Passages – The <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
Journals, a feature documentary<br />
film produced with <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Buffalo</strong>,<br />
will air on Thinkbright Television,<br />
on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008 at<br />
9:00 p.m. Thinkbright airs locally<br />
on Time Warner Channel 21 and<br />
on digital channel 17.3 for those<br />
that have digital television.<br />
Graceful Passages offers an inside<br />
look into the poignant world of<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> care as seen through the<br />
eyes of caregivers, patients and staff.<br />
The feature film was created by Jon<br />
R. Hand of <strong>Buffalo</strong>, an independent<br />
filmmaker who spent nearly 2 years<br />
with <strong>Hospice</strong> patients and staff.<br />
The remarkable film follows several<br />
patients and families into hospitals,<br />
homes, assisted living centers and<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> inpatient settings.<br />
Thinkbright is operated by public<br />
television station WNED in <strong>Buffalo</strong>,<br />
New York and focuses on educators,<br />
students, families and members of the<br />
community. The channel operates<br />
“24/7” and features an innovative<br />
prime-time line-up devoted to<br />
themes. For example, Sunday<br />
evenings on Thinkbright are devoted<br />
to Family & Education.<br />
We invite our <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Dateline</strong><br />
readers and others to join with your<br />
loved ones in watching Graceful<br />
Passages – The <strong>Hospice</strong> Journals. The<br />
film will be repeated on Thinkbright<br />
during 2009 and is also available on<br />
DVD by calling <strong>Hospice</strong> at 686-8070.<br />
For more information and bonus<br />
features from the film, go to<br />
www.gracefulpassagesmovie.com.<br />
William Finn,<br />
President & CEO<br />
CEO’s Message<br />
Raising the Bar<br />
For the past 30 years, <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Buffalo</strong> has<br />
provided exceptional care and support to more<br />
than 40,000 patients and families. <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
<strong>Buffalo</strong> has touched our friends, neighbors and<br />
our own families when serious illness becomes<br />
life threatening, and cure is no longer realistic.<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> became a movement to change the way<br />
people live with illness, and to bring comfort and<br />
understanding to those touched by loss. The pioneering spirit that propelled<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Buffalo</strong> as one of the first hospices in the United States now exists<br />
in a world class program seeking new and innovative approaches to care for<br />
persons with advanced disease.<br />
Today, <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Buffalo</strong> is one of the most unique programs in the country.<br />
Our passion remains strong and we are committed that no-one need live<br />
in pain, that all have the right to control their care, and that healthy and<br />
honest communication is a right, not an option. Patients have many choices<br />
today when considering the prospect of living with advanced disease. And<br />
often, hospice presents a remarkable option for living fully, comfortably,<br />
and at home. Indeed, a recent journal article highlighted the fact that<br />
patients enrolled in hospice care live 30 days longer than similar patients<br />
without hospice care. <strong>Hospice</strong> truly is about hope.<br />
In 2008, we opened the St. John Baptist/<strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Buffalo</strong> House, the only<br />
hospice-faith based partnership of this type in the country. Our Caring<br />
Hearts Perinatal Program has received national attention as a critical support<br />
for mothers whose pregnancy will not result in a healthy child. <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
<strong>Buffalo</strong> employs 10 physicians with more hospice and palliative care certified<br />
physicians than any hospice in the North East. Our program has the largest<br />
free-standing inpatient unit in the North East, and has routinely surpassed<br />
state and national standards for quality care at end of life.<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Buffalo</strong> is raising the bar as we continue to set new standards<br />
of care for Western New York and the nation. We are actively partnering<br />
with the University at <strong>Buffalo</strong> and our hospital partners to integrate<br />
palliative care training and service into acute care. Our partnerships with<br />
insurance providers are forging new venues for palliative care at home and<br />
pre-hospice care for persons with chronic disease, avoiding hospitalization<br />
and focusing on quality and comfort as disease advances.<br />
We believe that hospice can care for persons during the last year of life,<br />
not the last week. We believe hospice embraces hope and comfort, creating<br />
meaning and hope in a difficult time. We believe hospice is the way we<br />
would want to live; especially when we know it can add tremendous quality<br />
of life to our final chapter. Thank you for supporting <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Buffalo</strong> for<br />
the past 30 years. We ask that you continue your generosity and join with<br />
us as we create an extraordinary service to help us receive the compassionate<br />
care we will all deserve, and will need, for ourselves and those we love.<br />
William E. Finn, President and CEO
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