Annual Report

•  2009 Annual Report
  

Brochures

• Regional Hospice Program Brochure
• Regional Hospice Volunteer Brochure
• Healing Hearts Support Groups, Workshops and Programs
• Learn more about Dr. Robert Kloss, Regional Hospice Medical Director

Clinical Education Programs

• Educational Programs Flyer

News & Events

• Motorcyle Poker Run to Benefit Healing Hearts
• Volunteer Training Starts September 20, 2010
• News Release Archive
  

• New York Times: After a Death, the Pain That Doesn’t Go Away
• Discussing end-of-life care lowers cost: U.S. study

Motorcycle Poker Run Fundraiser to Benefit Healing Hearts

 DANBURY, CT—Join us for an unforgettable ride to benefit The Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children & Families. “Ride for Healing Hearts” is sponsored in part by Connecticut Cruise News and New Milford Cycles.

Proceeds of the event will benefit The Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children & Families. Healing Hearts, which is a program of Regional Hospice, was created specifically to help adults and children with their grief and to support them as they rebuild their lives. More than 125 children participate in grief support programs each month. The Center is located at 73 Stadley Rough Road in Danbury and features a beautiful Healing Garden and Memorial Brick Walkway, as well as age-appropriate group meeting rooms. Healing Hearts programs are free of charge to anyone in Western Connecticut and nearby communities in New York State.

 Every year Healing Hearts is helping more and more children. To meet this need, organizers are working hard to raise $10,000 to benefit the children at Healing Hearts. “Ride for Healing Hearts is a fun way to raise funds for the program and at the same time raise awareness about the importance of grief support,” explains Nancy Lavoie, organizer of the event. Bikers are encouraged to form teams, seek sponsors and raise funds. Registration is $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the event. For more information or to get involved, send an email to heartshealing@yahoo.com, call Nancy Lavoie at 203-788-0290, or visit www.RegionalHospiceCT.org.

Join Regional Hospice’s Volunteer Team

 If you can listen, enjoy being with other people, and want to make an impact on other people’s lives, you will fit right in with Regional Hospice’s volunteer team. Regional Hospice is seeking individuals who are willing to participate in volunteer training and visit with patients and families in any of the following towns: Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, Newtown, New Fairfield, Redding, Ridgefield, New Milford, and Southbury.

Volunteers are key to our team approach to care. Spending time with a volunteer often allows patients to forget about their serious medical issues and focus on enjoying activities. Whether playing cards, watching a baseball game, or looking at family photos, it is meaningful time together.

 “When a volunteer walks in the door it brightens our patients’ days,” says Carolyn Wolfe, the agency’s Volunteer Director. “It can make such a difference to a family to know that someone will be there for a visit.”

            Regional Hospice’s Family Support Volunteers provide companionship for patients and much-needed respite for caregivers, typically two to four hours a week. These special volunteers are an integral part of Regional Hospice’s multi-disciplinary team, providing practical assistance to bring joy to patients and ease the burden of families. They help by making friendly visits, reading to patients, writing letters or running errands. However, the most important gift a

volunteer can offer is just being there to listen, share a quiet moment, or lend a strong shoulder for support.

            Volunteers receive appropriate training so that they will feel confident walking into patients’ homes, and so that family members will feel comfortable asking for assistance. Regional Hospice’s next Family Support Volunteer Training Program will take place at the agency’s Danbury office on September 20^th, and 21^st from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and continuing on September 23^rd, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The 18 hour curriculum will include an overview of hospice and palliative care, how to be a supportive listener, the importance of respite in healthy caregiving, and an introduction to grief and loss.

            With an increasing need for hospice care in Greater Danbury, there is a corresponding need for additional family support volunteers, especially bilingual volunteers and massage therapists. Anyone interested in exploring the possibility of becoming a Regional Hospice volunteer may contact Carolyn Wolfe, Volunteer Director at (203) 739-8315 (email: Carolyn.Wolfe@danhosp.org), or Maureen Decker, Volunteer Coordinator at (203) 739-8316 (email: Maureen.Decker@danhosp.org). An application, references and background check are required along with a prescreening interview. Registration for the training will be accepted through August 27^th.