Here is a listing of our archived Press Releases.
Current | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
2006 Archived Press Releases
Hope
will walk last mile to ensure quality of life
December 11, 2006
Hope
of Southwest Florida has made the decision to withdraw our Hope Memorial
Care application to provide funeral care and related services. We have
listened to the questions raised in the community, and we will work to
address concerns and dispel misconceptions. At the same time, we will
continue to evaluate ways to improve the quality of life in our community.
Hope's mission is to provide exceptional care and support to every individual
and their loved ones as they fulfill life's journey. Hope Memorial Care
is a natural part of our mission. Our major focus is and always will be
to help others live their lives as fully as possible. This includes providing
physical, spiritual and emotional support as they plan for the end of
the journey. We know that the way a person dies and how well their final
wishes are honored will live on the hearts and minds of their family for
years to come.
For most people, funerals and memorials are an important part of the mourning
process as they say goodbye to a loved one. We know as well as anyone
that this is difficult for families, and if we can ease their burden by
offering this service, we will have improved their quality of life. Our
intent in submitting the application to the State of Florida's Division
of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services was to further improve the
quality of care options for people at this difficult time.
Many people are aware of our hospice program, which began 25 years ago.
Since then, we have created many new programs, all in keeping with our
goal to improve quality of care. These programs include a bereavement
camp for children and in-home care for the frail elderly. Each and every
new program has added to the quality of life in our community.
We've had conversations about our proposal with hundreds of local people
within the past year, and Hope Memorial Care is our response to those
conversations. We have heard requests for more nontraditional celebrations
of life and new ways to memorialize loved ones. Those who have had experience
with hospice care know that we will meet their expectations. They see
no reason to separate the death itself from the entire care process we
provide because they know we will honor their wishes.
These requests for different options and new ideas for funeral care and
related services clearly and naturally fit within our goal. We want to
help people live every day as fully as possible and to help them live
and die with dignity.
We have always encouraged pre-planning to avert difficult decision-making
at the end of life. Because of the dramatic increase in the number of
people who are pre-planning their funerals, many who enter hospice care
have already made their arrangements, which we would always be sure are
honored.
With our proposal, we have opened up a community dialog regarding new
options for final arrangements. Hope's Board of Directors will review
all suggestions as we continue to move forward in meeting our community's
needs.
Samira
K. Beckwith, Hope President and CEO
Hope
Hospice Tree of Lights Enters 23rd Season
Decorations, donations a holiday tradition
(Fort
Myers, Fla.) -- This year marks the 23rd season for the Hope Hospice Tree
of Lights at Edison Mall. This signature event enables Hope Hospice supporters
to decorate the tree and honor a loved one while making a contribution
to Hope.
With each donation, participants receive a butterfly ornament, the symbol
of hope and renewal, to place on the tree. "The Tree of Lights has
been a part of our community almost as long as Hope Hospice," according
to Hope President and CEO Samira K. Beckwith, who added that Hope Hospice
is observing its 25th anniversary this year. "The Tree has become
a traditional way for people in our community to remember and honor their
loved ones. We are committed to caring for everyone who needs our services,
regardless of their ability to pay, so this is a special holiday gift
for us as well."
The Tree of Lights event runs through December 24. The trees are located
in Edison Mall, by Dillard's, in front of Santa's station.
Hope
Seeks to Provide Hospice Care in Collier County
Agency responds to state's finding that additional hospice care is needed
in Collier
(Fort
Myers, Fla.) Hope of Southwest Florida (Hope) President and CEO Samira
Beckwith announced today that Hope has applied to the state to provide
hospice services in Collier County.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) reviews each
of the state's 27 hospice service areas twice each year to determine if
hospice care needs are being adequately met. In their most recent review,
AHCA determined that Collier is one of three areas in the state that is
underserved. AHCA is now accepting applications from other agencies for
competitive review to determine which applicant is best qualified to establish
an additional hospice program in Collier County.
According to Beckwith, "We are applying to serve Collier because
we are the most highly qualified, based on our history, experience and
understanding of the community." She pointed out that ACHA found
that Hope ranks among the most effective hospices in the state in meeting
hospice care needs. Hope has served southwest Florida for 25 years.
Although at this time five other organizations have filed letters of intent
to submit applications, Beckwith said Hope is in a unique position to
serve. In November 2005, Hope opened Joanne's House at Hope Hospice in
Bonita Springs, a state-of-the-art, 24-bed hospice house in close proximity
to Collier County residents. In the past three years, Hope has received
four major national awards in recognition of its innovation, quality and
leadership in health care. The awards were presented by the American Medical
Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Pharmacists
Association, and other prestigious institutions.
Samira Beckwith is a nationally recognized leader in hospice care. She
has provided expert testimony before government bodies including the US
House Judiciary Committee. She has served as National Director of the
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the oldest
and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and
palliative care programs in the United States. Beckwith was a Governor's
appointee to the state's Long-Term Care Policy Council, providing direction
to the state Office of Long-Term Care Policy and focused on providing
the most cost-effective, community-based services for Florida's elderly.
She has served as President and CEO of Hope for 15 years.
In Collier, Hope will be able to provide the same comprehensive services
it now offers in Lee, Glades, Hendry, Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties.
Services are provided to everyone in need, of all ages, from all walks
of life, regardless of their ability to pay.
"Our intention is to have a collaborative relationship with the health
care community in Collier County, to ensure that everyone is getting the
care they need." Beckwith said. "If our application is approved
by the state, it will be our privilege to meet the unmet needs of the
people of Collier County."
Hope Announces 2006-2007 Board of Directors
(Fort
Myers, Fla.) Hope of Southwest Florida President and CEO Samira K. Beckwith
has announced the Hope Board of Directors for fiscal year 2006 2007.
The Board is responsible for governing Hope in the best interest of the
community, as part of the agency's mission to provide exceptional care
and support to every individual and their loved ones as they fulfill life's
journey.
"Our Board members are committed to our community," Beckwith
said. "They represent the best in terms of community service and
local business experience, and they will help guide Hope to even greater
success, for the benefit of those in our care."
New to the Hope Board this year
● David P. Browne, P.A., Attorney At Law, Bonita Springs
● Reverend Dr. H. Timothy Halverson, Pastor, Faith Presbyterian
Church in Cape Coral
Board Officers 2006-2007
Board Chair: Charles Idelson, President and CEO, Investors' Security Trust,
Fort Myers
Vice Chair: Dick Ackert, President and CEO, SouthTrust Bank, Fort Myers,
retired
Treasurer: Tom Giles, President and CEO, Avalon Engineering, Inc., Cape
Coral
Secretary: Larry Turbeville, Accent Business Products of Southwest Florida,
Fort Myers
Incumbent Board Members
● Joe Catti, President and CEO, FineMark National Bank & Trust
(P), Fort Myers
● Frank D'Alessandro, D'Alessandro & Woodyard Commercial Realtors,
Fort Myers
● Amy Gravina, President, Gravina, Smith & Matte, Fort Myers
● Robbie Roepstorff, President, Edison Bank, Bank of the Islands,
Sanibel
● Robert Wigley, Chairman, Great Plains Companies, Sanibel
"Our Board members' extensive and varied experience, along with their
love of the community, will ensure that Hope will offer the highest quality
health care for years to come," Beckwith said.
back
to top
Naples
Daily News/Bonita Daily News
This Rainbow's gold: hope
By Anne Marie Apollo
Paints
and markers at hand, the 9- to 12-year-olds stake out the cabin making
art projects. Out in the field, the littlest kids run through a chain
of fists clasped tight in a game of Red Rover while deep in the shade
of nearby woods the teenagers laugh and shout their way though a "Survivor"-style
obstacle course.
At night, they meet up with bunkmates and snuggle into sleeping bags,
many for the first time away from home. At 7 a.m. sharp, reveille plays
over a bullhorn. Later there will be swimming. It's every memory ever
included in any sepia-toned scrapbook devoted to camp. But for these nearly
80 Lee County children, it also is therapy.
At Camp Rainbow Trails, each camper has had a family member die within
the past year. A mom. A dad. A sister. An uncle. Some were able to say
goodbye. Many didn't have the chance.
This weekend at a Sylvan campground just across the Hendry County line
near Alva, they will write letters to their loved ones and plant them
in the ground, along with a new tree.
The masks they craft show the difference between how they feel on the
inside and the face they show the world. A childhood game gives them a
hand to hold. A challenge in the woods teaches them even what seems insurmountable
can be overcome, with trust and friends.
Away from parents, cell phones and electronic distractions, the group
can talk about their feelings with other kids who have had similar losses,
said Bill Enslen, camp director at vice president of bereavement services
at Hope Hospice, which annually hosts the children at no cost to their
families.
In three days there, grieving children have a chance to make progress
that would take three to six months anywhere else, he said. "Here
it's OK to cry," Enslen said. "Everyone does. It's an OK thing."
There is time for that, yes, but also for giggling and card tricks and
banana splits. That's the point of Rainbow Trails, Enslen said. Created
in 1989, it fills the gap between the way adults and children deal with
loss. "It's not that they don't grieve; they grieve differently,"
Enslen said of kids. For every three children at the camp, there is one
camp counselor. Licensed bereavement counselors lead activities meant
to be fun but also give kids insight into loss.
Inside one of the camp's cabins, children sit in a semicircle at a table
near a large mirror. Drawing inspiration from a scene in the Harry Potter
series where the title character looks into a reflection to see his heart's
desire, counselors ask them to sketch what they would want to see there.
"Can I use words?" asks 10-year-old Juan Diaz. Given the go-ahead,
he carefully prints that he wants most to see his dad. He died last year,
Diaz explains. A grief counselor suggested the camp, he said, admitting
he was nervous at first about taking the trip. "Until I met Justin,
David and Matthew," he says, pointing out new friends at the table.
"I'm OK with it now. It's good to talk to someone else (who is grieving)."
Justin Vandernorth, 9, sits nearby, drawing a picture of his uncle. Outside,
his cousins, Kalie Vandernorth, 8, and her brother, Eddie, 6, line up
for Red Rover. Kalie's been talking about her dad at camp and about how
he died. He was 28, she says. He had a heart problem. They thought he
was getting better, she adds simply. A lion hangs around her neck. She
says it is for courage.
Like the older kids, the youngest group, ages 6 to 8, have been working
on art projects, too. Sophia Guerin, 7, decorated hers with flowers and
stars, just like her older sister used to like to doodle. "She drew
pretty hearts that looked like this," it reads. "Her name was
Rachel." Rachel Hooppaw, 16, an honor student and athlete at Riverdale
High School, drowned in August.
Hope Hospice works with the Lee County School District and local law enforcement
agencies to reach children who need the respite, Enslen said. At school,
each might be the only person who has ever suffered a loss, he said. At
camp, they aren't the only kids to have been to a funeral, or whose mom
or dad is gone. They're normal.
That's exactly what Sierra Tallar, 14, wants. After her older sister died
earlier this year in a car accident, she didn't like it when people started
to act strangely around her, she said. Camp isn't like that, she said.
"They all know what you're going through," Tallar said. "You
know you're not the only one feeling different." At Rainbow Trails,
she's learning things can be hard, but that she shouldn't give up, that
people working together can find a solution, she said.
In a clearing in the woods, rope strung to nearby trees is spun into a
spider web. Each of the teenage campers must go through one of the holes
with the help of the rest of the team, but no opening can be used twice.
Smaller campers will need to be lifted up. Older ones need to make sure
everyone is able to get through.
"We're going to put you through that opening there," Tallar
says to one. "And we're going to put you through there." Then,
only she and one teammate are left. "You won't be able to lift
me up," Taller says. "Yes I will," her teammate responds,
picking up the lithe teen and slipping her deftly through one of two available
openings, then stepping to the other side herself.
Then it's on to face the next challenge, together.
Fort
Myers NewsPress
Dealing With Grief: Camp helps kids with loss of loved ones
By Michelle L. Start
Jessica
Kane did not know what to expect when her grandmother died last week from
cancer.
"I miss going out to dinner with her," said Kane, 9. "She
loved Perkins."
But through a special bereavement camp held this weekend in Alva, Kane
was able to interact with children her own age who also had lost a loved
one. The camp, called Rainbow Trails, was hosted by Hope Hospice and about
78 children between 6 and 16 attended. The camp is held each year, and
children are chosen by referrals, such as those of school counselors.
"I started it when I realized children grieve differently than adults,"
said Bill Enslen, camp director and Hope Hospice 's vice president of
bereavement services. "They don 't have the attention span for long
periods of emotion. I realized we neglected, as a society, children 's
grief. When I was growing up, camp was always a special time."
He said some of the children feel alienated because they don 't know anyone
else who has lost a loved one, but at Rainbow Trails, they are able to
bond with one another pretty quickly. "I think we can do more grief
work here than in four to six months in regular groups because there are
no distractions," Enslen said.
The camp does not cost the families; it is financed through community
contributions. The criterion for attending is that a child must have lost
someone significant in their lives during the past year. Some have lost
parents to shootings, stabbings or disease. Others have lost siblings
or grandparents.
Throughout the weekend, children participate in activities that let them
express grief.
Chip Kerby, 11, of Lehigh Acres lost his grandmother last June after a
lengthy illness. On a mask, he drew a blue apple, affixed a blue dolphin
and attached a pink heart with two feathers. "This symbol means
my grandma was a teacher and loved the color blue," he said, pointing
to the apple and dolphin. "I like to think my grandma was a brave
warrior and I loved her."
Alex Morton, 12, of Fort Myers lost his father Dec. 16 at Hope Hospice.
"He was sick, but I don 't know how he died," Morton said. At
camp, counselors had Morton and other children participate in team exercises
to build trust among them and to also teach them how to rely on others.
A spider web game had children helping one another climb through holes
in a rope web. "Everybody has to go through a hole, but you can 't
go through a hole twice," Morton said. As a new friend dove through
a hole, Morton rushed in to try to catch him from a fall.
Local Designers,
Decorators and Merchants Create for Hope
Fundraising luncheon supports hospice work
(Bonita
Springs, Fla.) A large display of unique and extraordinary dinner table
settings was the centerpiece of the fourth annual spring fundraising luncheon
held by the Women 's Committee for Hope Hospice at Bonita Springs. "Unforgettable
Tables" was the theme, which raised $25,000 by silent auction and
sales significantly more than the previous luncheons. More than 250
people attended the event at Pelican 's Nest Golf Club at Pelican Landing.
Twenty-six local designers and companies participated, each creating a
distinctive table setting for ten. Individual themes ranged from Les Papillons
(The Butterflies) by DuFrane Jewelers, Sadako 's Cranes by Robb &
Stucky Interiors, Tuscan Olives by Patio World Home and Hearth, and The
Sparkling Seaside by Bilotti Interiors. Many of the items featured on
the tables were available for purchase by silent auction. Contributors
also included APJ Designs, Baer's Furniture, Collins & Dupont Interiors,
Empire Gems, Gouse Furniture, Southern Showcase and The Paper Merchant.
All proceeds from the event go to Joanne 's House at Hope Hospice in Bonita
Springs, Hope 's newest hospice facility.
According to Samira K. Beckwith, Hope President and CEO, "The members
of the Women 's Committee, chaired by Donna Roberts, are wonderful friends
of Hope. Each year their spring luncheon has been a beautiful act of giving
to the community as they support of our work, and the event itself is
always fun."
Spring
Luncheon Committee
Front row, from left: Jane Skelton, Joy Holloway, Donna Roberts,
Mary Ann Ryks
Second row: Dee Ambrozy, Carol Grimes, Judy Kahl, Peggy Claffey,
Judi Brown, Karen Lawrence, Barbara Bartholomew, Judy Spoelhof
Agostino 's "Cockadoodle-do"
Empire Gems ' "Hope Reigns"
DuFrane Jewelers ' "Les Papillons" (The Butterflies)
New Cookbook Benefits Hope Hospice
(Bonita
Springs, Fla.) The butterfly, a symbol of hope and renewal, makes an
eye-catching cover for a new cookbook entitled "Let the Butter Fly,"
created to benefit Hope Hospice. The extensive collection of recipes was
compiled by the Bonita Bay Bible study group, who saw it as a unique opportunity
to support one of their favorite charitable causes.
Recipes were contributed by more than 100 individuals, local executive
chefs and popular restaurants. It includes recipes for every course of
the meal, including appetizers, soups, salads, pasta, poultry, meats,
seafood, vegetables, desserts and beverages. The cookbook, containing
more than 400 recipes, retails for $20, with all proceeds going to Hope.
The colorful cover was designed by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler, a Bonita
Springs resident who has written and illustrated three travel and history
books. She is represented by the Shaw Gallery of Naples and Bonita Springs.
"Let the Butter Fly" made its debut at a luncheon held at Robb
& Stuckey, hosted by Natalie Wismar, a member of the Bible study group.
"This cookbook is a creative and fun way to benefit Hope Hospice
and the community," Hope President and CEO Samira K. Beckwith said.
"We are so grateful when community-minded people come up with new
ways to support the work of our organization."
To purchase "Let the Butter Fly:"
More than 300 book orders have already been placed. The Bible study group
plans to place the book in area bookstores, and in the meantime, it will
be available at
DuFrane Jewelers in Bonita Springs and at Joanne 's House at Hope Hospice
in Bonita Springs. The cookbook is also available by mail:
Cookbook
c/o Hope Hospice
9470 HealthPark Circle
Fort Myers, FL 33908
To purchase one cookbook, send a check payable to Hope Hospice in the
amount of $20 plus $6 for shipping and handling. For each additional book,
shipping and handling is only $1. (For example, the total cost for one
cookbook is $26. For two cookbooks, the cost is $47; for three, $68.)
Springtime
and the Easter season are known to many people in the world as a time
of hope and renewal. However, holidays and special occasions are also
a time when people may remember the loss of a loved one. At Hope of Southwest
Florida, we are represented by the butterfly, also a symbol of hope and
renewal. As we serve the community through Hope Hospice and our Pathways
of Hope bereavement counseling programs, we are often asked, how can "hope"
and "loss" fit together? The two terms may at first seem incompatible.
The mission of Hope is to provide exceptional care and support to all
people who are touched by end-of-life issues. The people we serve, whether
as a patient, family member, or anyone else who is experiencing grief,
find that through this special kind of care and support, "hope"
can take on new dimensions.
Holidays may come with reminders of a recent loss in our lives, or they
may even bring feelings of grief from years past. Fortunately, thoughtful
preparation can help to alleviate the grief and stress. The Pathways of
Hope Counseling Center, part of Hope of Southwest Florida, helps families
who have experienced loss throughout the year. The professional counselors
at Pathways offer suggestions for holidays.
Those who have recently lost a loved one, as well as their friends, should
not try to ignore the loss and pretend that nothing has changed. Recognize
that holidays won 't be the same. Expecting everything to be the same
might lead to disappointment. Have reasonable expectations and keep in
mind that few things in life are either all good or all bad.
During holidays, allow yourself, or your grieving friend, permission to
do what feels right. At a time of year when many people feel compelled
to follow holiday traditions, doing something different, such as going
out of town for a visit, can be helpful.
Be careful not to isolate yourself. It 's important to take quiet, reflective
time for yourself but also allow yourself the support offered from friends
and family.
The holidays may affect other family members. Talk over your plans and
share your feelings. Respect other 's choices and needs.
We work to enable our hospice patients to have high hopes for a good life,
no matter how long or short it may be. We help their families, and others
in the community who are grieving, to cherish and celebrate their memories
of a life with someone who was special, so that instead of focusing on
the "loss" of a loved one, they find a renewed appreciation
of how much they gained from knowing that person and from sharing life's
experiences with them.
It has been our privilege to share hope and renewal with the people of
southwest Florida for 25 years. If we may be of service, please call (800)
835-1673.
Samira K. Beckwith, President and CEO
Hope of Southwest Florida
Now
is the time to prepare for future health care needs
Hope Hospice works to inform the community
(Fort
Myers, Fla.) -- Although it has been a year since the death of Terri Schiavo,
discussion of this family tragedy continues nationwide, even worldwide.
The bitter disagreement between Terri's husband and her parents over her
life support reached the Governor, Congress, the Supreme Court, the White
House and the Vatican. At the heart of the issue: In what doctors called
a persistent vegetative state, Terri was unable to speak for herself,
and she left no written instructions for her care.
According to Samira K. Beckwith, President and CEO of Hope Hospice, "The
one good thing about this is that it has led families to realize the importance
of being prepared for the end of life. No one needs to suffer as Terri's
family has."
However, a recent national study reveals that even though more than 70
percent of Americans had given thought to end-of-life care, only 29 percent
have a living will.
Beckwith says that number will improve, as indicated by Hope's steady
stream of requests for information and materials about preparing for future
health care needs and wishes. "This advance planning, also known
as Advance Directives' and other terms, refers to your instructions,
both oral and written, about your medical care in the event you are unable
to speak for yourself."
In response to the community's interest in Advance Directives, members
of Hope's Speakers Bureau make presentations to groups upon request, to
discuss questions that each person should ask themselves about end-of-life
care, and to explain how to prepare the simple documents. For more information,
call (239) 433-8066.
Hope's Advance Directives booklet can be accessed here.
"We know from experience that peace of mind is essential to comfort
at the end of life," Beckwith said. "Advance planning can make
a significant difference in your life and in the lives of those you love."
Hope
Announces Adult Day Health Care Services:
Includes services and amenities unique in Lee County
(Fort
Myers, Fla.) Hope of Southwest Florida has announced the opening of
a special new facility for the daytime care of adults in Lee County. According
to Hope President and CEO Samira K. Beckwith, the agency saw a need for
the care of people who need assistance during the day but prefer to live
at home. Adult Day Health Care services are available to adults with functional
impairments requiring a protective environment and therapeutic social
and health activities. The new services are for those who are not patients
of Hope Hospice.
"The facility and the program have been carefully and thoughtfully
designed to enrich the lives of those in our care," Beckwith said.
"Their days will be meaningful and rewarding, and each person can
be as active and involved as they are able to be."
Hope's Adult Day Health Care services are provided at the new Hope Health
Center, a spacious, comfortable state-of-the-art facility located at 2668
Winkler Avenue in Fort Myers.
Each client's day will begin with conversations and discussions with Hope
staff members and volunteers about the news of the day and other topics
of interest, which will help to determine the individual's state of mind.
Light exercise sessions will help the individual to maintain body strength,
primarily for balance and fall prevention. The day will also include rest
periods, games, crafts, gardening, art, music and pet therapy, and even
dancing if desired. A warm lunch and snacks will be served.
Among the unique features of the Hope Health Center is its therapeutic
kitchen and bedroom. An individual who is new to a wheelchair, or has
suffered a stroke or has other new limitations will be able to learn how
to easily get in and out of bed, and how to maneuver in the kitchen. The
individual's own occupational therapist will also be able to attend, and
a nurse will always be on duty.
Optional services include personal care, spa treatments, hair styling
and manicures.
At enrollment, the staff determines each person's interests, hobbies and
career history so that daily activities can be customized.
The facility is open 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, and participants
may attend all day or for only a few hours. The rate is $9 per hour for
less than 32 hours per week, and a lower rate is applied for more than
32 hours. Hope does not provide transportation, but can assist in arranging
for transportation assistance by local service agencies.
"The mission of Hope Hospice has always been to provide exceptional
care and support to all people who are touched by end-of-life issues,"
Beckwith said. "With our Adult Day Health Care services, we can now
offer even more people in our community the opportunity to have a comfortable,
satisfying and dignified life."
For more information about Hope's Adult Day Health Care services, call
(239) 985-6400.
Only
29 Percent of Americans Have a Living Will:
Advance Care Planning is Critical Regardless of Your Wishes
You are in an accident. You are rushed to the hospital as emergency personnel
work to keep you alive. The doctor tells your family that you are unconscious,
your prognosis is poor and death may be imminent. You are attached to
a ventilator through a breathing tube since you cannot breathe on your
own.
A week later, the doctor states that there is no chance of recovery and
it is unlikely you will ever wake up. Your family is asked whether or
not to insert a feeding tube in your stomach to provide you with nutrition
and hydration and a permanent tube through your throat to keep you breathing.
One of your family members says "no tubes" because of a conversation
about Terri Schiavo that the two of you had. Another one says "yes"
because of their own spiritual beliefs. You never completed an advance
directive: So who makes the decision?
Most people would emphatically agree that an individual should have the
power to make their own healthcare decisions. Ironically, most Americans
have not taken steps to make sure their wishes are known or honored reports
the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. The tragic situation
involving Terri Schiavo was made all the more difficult because she had
no written advance directive.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
found that although more than 70 percent of Americans had given thought
to end-of-life treatments, only 29 percent have a living will.
Completing a living will, or an advance directive, is part of advance
care planning. It lets you explain the kinds of care you would and would
not want if you were ever seriously ill. A healthcare power-of-attorney
is another part of an advance directive that lets you appoint someone
to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you cannot speak for yourself.
Planning is important whether you want every life-sustaining medical intervention
available up until the moment of your death, or if you want to spend the
final period of your life focusing on comfort care. What matters is that
you make your wishes known by completing an advance directive and talking
about it with your loved ones. Download Advance
Directives forms (pdf format) here.
Talking about the end of life can make it better
The Southwest Florida Coalition Improving End-of-Life Care presents a five-week series to educate the community about end-of-life issues.
February 28: Opening the Dialogue
Barbara Kruse, ARNP, PhD., Florida Gulf Coast University
March 7: Hospice 101
Tony Chioccarelli, Vice President of Program Development
Hope Hospice
March 14: Spiritual Aspects of the End of Life
Cindy Merced, LCSW, Pathways of Hope Counseling
March 21: Caregiving and Managing End-of-Life Care
Peg Gray-Vickery, RN, C, DNS, Florida Gulf Coast University
Dr. Shirley Ruder, RN
Chairperson, SWFL Coalition Improving End of Life Care, Florida Gulf Coast
University
March 28: Dealing with Grief and Loss
Bill Enslen, LMHC, Vice President of Bereavement Services, Pathways of
Hope Counseling
To register, call (239) 533-4000. At Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers. All programs are free and open to the public. A sign language interpreter is available with 48 hours notice. Call the Deaf Service Center at 461-0334 (voice) or 461- 0438 (TTY). Assistive listening devices are available.
Naples
Daily News: Monday, February 20
Fundraising goes swimmingly for hearts of hope Gala
By Harriet Howard Heithaus
In four years, the women 's committee of Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs has raised more than a half-million dollars to support its facility, Joanne 's House.
The unusual sight was a rare gala raffle prize: a 40-inch Sony BRAVIA
high-definition television, a gift of Bill Smith Appliances. The television,
was which was introduced in January at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show
in Las Vegas, was beaming a high-definition, dive-right-in version of
a "Finding Nemo" game based on the animated film. Patrons were
stopping to watch it in between making selections for two silent auctions.
Few galas feature talking fish. But the Hearts of Hope Gala for Hope Hospice
in Bonita Springs had giant size-ones splashing around in front of them
Saturday for a crowd that loved it.
Gala organizers have an unusual second silent auction offering, which women 's committee founder and chairwoman Donna Roberts learned in Michigan, where she worked with fundraising for other hospice groups. In this one, called the "Hope to Win" auction, each item has a value placed on it. Slots are allotted for 10 bids that are priced at 10 percent of the item 's listed value.
Once bids slots are filled out, no more bids are taken on that item. Names
are drawn from among the bidders, and bills for each bid are delivered
to the bidders during the dessert course. One of them will tell the bidder
he or she has won the item.
That makes for a lively dessert, Roberts acknowledged.
"We send the list of auction items to each ticket buyer in advance," she added. "That way they can decide what they want to bid on, do it and enjoy the time before dinner with their friends, instead of having to look over all the items to see what 's being offered."
One of her two co-chairs, Etta Smith, solicited prizes and among the traditional silent auction items she found this year were vacations in Vail, Colo.; Cancun, Mexico; Jackson, Hole, Wyo.; and the 250-acre Meadowood Resort in Napa Valley, Calif. The last brought in nearly $13,000.
Its perennial auctioneer, Bob Moates, conducted the live auction. Among the items, Smith 's favorite were three lavish orchid baskets from Sundance Orchids in Fort Myers that brought in an impressive $2,000.
"These were phenomenal," she said. " I 've never seen anything like them."
The third co-chairwoman, Signe Wynne, handled arrangements at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point that included a dinner of petite filets and crab cakes and a head-turning group of chocolate desserts for the 480 supporters. The De Leon Orchestra provided dance music at the $250-a-ticket evening.
In four years, the women 's committee of Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs has raised more than a half-million dollars to support its facility, Joanne 's House.
"I think we 're going to take in around $200,000. We don 't know the total because the hotel bills aren 't in yet," Smith said. But she 's hoping the proceeds meet that figure. "I 'll be pretty thrilled with that."
For more information about Hope Hospice of Bonita Springs, call 444-1100.
Fort
Myers NewsPress: February 19
Hope is on the way: She tells why SW Fla 's nonprofit hospice is important
BY TIm EngStrom
CEO PROFILE
Personal: Married to Jim Sievers, a retired pharmaceutical company account
executive. Two grown stepdaughters who live in Tennessee.
Residence: South of Fort Myers.
Education: Bachelor 's degree in sociology and master 's degree in social
work, both from Ohio State.
Some Affiliations: Serves on the boards of both the Florida Hospices and
Palliative Care organization and the National Hospice and Palliative Care
Organization.
Executive Board Member of the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts
of America
On the board of Investors ' Security Trust in Fort Myers.
Samira Beckwith found her life 's passion lurking under the mortal threat
of cancer.
Beckwith was a graduate student at Ohio State University when she was
diagnosed with Hodgkin 's disease, cancer of the lymph system. She underwent
treatment for the next three years, getting increasingly frustrated with
a medical establishment that seemed more interested in the disease than
the person fighting it.
While still a student, Beckwith began volunteering with a hospice committee.
Once she had earned her master 's degree, she began working in the field
full-time.
For the last 15 years, she 's been the president and CEO of Hope of Southwest
Florida and has seen the organization grow exponentially.
When Beckwith arrived in 1991, the organization served 50 people daily
in their own homes. Today, it serves almost 1,000 people daily in their
own homes and in three free-standing hospice houses. The newest Joanne
's House in Bonita Springs opened in October.
The growth isn 't stopping. The organization is now pursuing state approval
for an adult day-care center for the frail elderly who wouldn 't normally
be served by hospice.
Despite the busy agenda, Beckwith, 53, sat down recently with The News-Press
to talk about her experiences, clear up misconceptions about hospice and
explain why everyone needs to know what Hope does.
A HOSPICE PIONEER
I was one of those volunteers in the late '70s who wanted to change
the way the health-care system cared for people at the end of life ...
I met a lot of people who were not as fortunate as me and who did not
survive their disease.
Watching the care that they received and the care that I was receiving,
and hearing about hospice in this country at the time, I remember thinking
that there needed to be something better for people when they weren 't
going to be cured. It was the same time that hospice was being developed
in this country, and I became very interested in hospice. I started going
to committee meetings to start hospice and providing counseling for people
with cancer and looking for ways to improve the quality of life for people.
FINDING FORT MYERS
Hospice is a small community across the country, and I heard of the job
being open. I followed up and was one of five people interviewed for the
position.
I thought, 'What a beautiful community. ' I didn 't realize at the
time how much growth was going to be happening. I really didn 't have
a sense of that.
... They gave me the grand tour, you know, the 'Move Here Tour '
take you to the beach, take you to Sanibel and Captiva and hope you
see a dolphin as you go over the bridge and decide to move here.
I 've always been a person no matter where I am I want to do the best
I can. I want to enjoy the people who are there and the surroundings.
You can 't wait until later to enjoy yourself. You can 't wait until later
to be happy with who you are and what you are doing. I think that is one
of the lessons I learned with having Hodgkin 's disease. The lesson of
how important each day is and the lesson of how we have to enjoy each
day and how fragile life is. So, I enjoyed North Dakota. I enjoyed Ohio,
and I have enjoyed Florida.
THE EARLY YEARS
It was all in-home care and it was a rented space that was, gosh, maybe
the space of my office now. When I came, they used my office as a medical
supply storage as well as my office. My office had medical equipment as
well as my desk and my chair. We had 50 patients a day we were caring
for and about 30 staff members. Now we are caring for about 950 to 1,000
patients a day.
It 's not the growth in the population. It 's the work that our staff
is doing about increasing the awareness of what Hospice care truly is
and how we can help people.
MISCONCEPTIONS
Some people still think hospice is only for people with cancer, but hospice
is for people with all diseases and of all ages. Some people think hospice
is only available for the Medicare-eligible people. There are a lot of
misconceptions about the diseases and the ages. We take care of babies.
... and we have 15 children on service on any one day. Many people are
in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
I think it will be another generation or two generations from now before
people are really comfortable talking about end-of-life care.
It 's easy to talk in the abstract for those people over there everyone
should have an advance directive, everybody should talk to their parents
about what they want. It 's easy to talk about it for everybody else,
but it is different to do it for yourself.
When I go to the luncheon, someone might say, 'Don 't talk to Samira,
she might talk about death and dying ' or 'I don 't want to be talking
to you because you might be recruiting patients. ' Those jokes are really
a reflection of the discomfort with the topic. So, I just smile and say
to some of them, 'Oh, we 'll get you later. '
I know it 's not because I 'm not charming or fun to be around.
NONPROFIT VS. PROFIT
There are many similarities, but I also believe there are some differences.
One difference is that our constituency or our stockholders the people
we are responsible to are the community members. That is the major difference.
We are responsible to everyone in this community who has end-of-life-care
needs and that turns out to be everybody. If it is not for themselves,
it is for a family member.
We have a Cancer Society that does great work. The Heart Association does
great work. The ALS Association, the Alzheimer 's Association. We are
for all of those people. Our mission is to provide excellence for end-of-life
care for all of those people and their families. It 's a pretty big mission,
and I think that is the difference.
We also have to operate, as an organization, from a business model without
losing the essence of our not-for-profit mission. Sometimes it gets challenging.
It 's not challenging to not lose the essence of our mission. That part
is easy. The difficult part comes with the business side of it because
all of our staff has to pay their mortgages and take care of their families.
In some ways, that 's how we are different from a for-profit business
because we don 't set our prices. Our cost of delivering care is the cost,
but how much we are reimbursed is set by Medicare set by the government
or set by the insurance companies. That 's a challenge.
SPECIAL STAFF
It takes people who like to have that special communication and enjoy
listening to a patient. It 's not about talking. It 's about listening.
We think about each patient as a person who actually has many dimensions
to the care that they need.
They have the physical dimension, they have the spiritual, the emotional,
the practical help ... Every person we take care of has a story. They
have a story they would like to talk about and maybe preserve for their
family members. That 's why it is so important that we recognize them
as the person they are and not the patient that the health care system
has tried to turn them into. When we get them from the health care system,
we go back to treating them as a person and their family, too. It 's one
of the saddest times for families, as well as the person who is at the
end of life. If somebody has had a great life and then they had a bad
death, it is really hard for the family to forget that and to remember
all the good times. They are just focusing on the bad death, and there
is no excuse for a bad death.
SECRETS OF SUCCESS
I started at the very beginning of hospice. I sat at many bedsides with
patients and talked with many family members. I understand, firsthand,
what the mission is and what the challenges are that go along with the
very important work that we do. That is one reason why I have been able
to be successful as CEO of the organization. I 'm very comfortable with
patients and families, although I rarely get to talk to them anymore.
I could spend my whole day walking around the Hospice House talking to
patients and families and for me that would be very rewarding, and I would
enjoy it, but it 's not my job.
The other reason is that I am very passionate about the work that we do.
I have been able to build my business skills because we wouldn 't be here
if we weren 't also operating like a business. The bank still wants to
be paid.
I learned many (business skills) growing with hospice. I took a lot of
courses in public administration. I would have also had a master 's in
public administration if I hadn 't gotten sick because I was in a dual
program. After I got sick, I just wanted to graduate with my master 's
degree. Over the years, I have sought out mentors, and I 've sought out
courses that would be helpful to me, and I still do that. Anyone who thinks
they know everything about a topic is really mistaken.
Relaxing
I read novels. I 'm not a very athletic person. I 've tried to golf, and
I 've tried to run and my knees wouldn 't hold up. I try to dabble a little
bit with exercise and read and enjoy my family and enjoy my friends.
IMPACT OF HOSPICE
Much of what hospice care has demonstrated is being incorporated into
medical care. For example, hospice houses are very home-like, and I believe
that hospitals are now trying to be very home-like and involve the family
more in care, and I think those changes came from the early days of hospice.
It 's not just about the person as a patient, but it 's about the family.
I think pain management has changed because of hospice. The focus on caring
for people in pain and controlling their symptoms comes from the early
days of hospice. When I was a patient with cancer, it was difficult to
get pain medicine. In the early days, it was routine in a hospital to
ask for your pain medicine and they would say, 'Excuse me, your
four hours aren 't up, ' and they wouldn 't get you more medicine. Now,
with what we have learned about controlling pain in hospice, now when
you are a surgical patient in a hospital, they have self-administered
morphine pumps so that the patient can give themselves some medicine without
even having to ask, within controls so that people aren 't being over-medicated.
Those are changes that I think were learned in hospice that have been
translated into everyday care in hospitals.
THE FUTURE
For our organization, it has been moving forward, continuing to provide
access to care for the people who are entitled to it and deserve to have
access. We 've never sat back and said, 'Oh, we did a good job with
this group of people. ' We have continued to search out how to take care
of more people. When people need us, they need us today.
It is really sad when somebody says, 'I wish I had known about hospice.
' What has driven us is providing access to care for all people who are
entitled and deserve to have hospice care. It 's access with quality.
Fifteen years ago, when I came here, I said our goals are going to be
access, quality and being good stewards to our resources. We have never
changed those goals, but we continued to look at activities that will
help us reach those goals. We understand our mission and, I think that
when I came, there wasn 't an understanding of that and that is what I
brought to the organization.