Recognizing National Nurses Week
Thank you to all the nurses out there for choosing a profession committed to providing selfless service to others.
Recognizing Volunteer Month
Volunteers are often the unsung heroes of nonprofit organizations. They provide vital support for programming, services and administration that may go unnoticed to casual observer. Every April, organizations around the country salute their volunteers for all the dedication, hard work and enthusiasm they bring to every shift, every task and special event.
Health Care Decisions Day
Do you know who will make health care decisions for you if you can't?
Lew-Port Fifth Grader Honors Grandfather With Fundraiser for Niagara Hospice
As a 10-year-old, Desi Toczek has demonstrated that no matter how old you are or at what stage of life you are in, the loss of a loved one affects us all. Whether we raise money via a fundraiser, plant a tree or simply visit their favorite place, we can always honor our loved ones by keeping their memories alive in our hearts.
March 30 is National Doctors' Day
March 30 is National Doctors' Day. Niagara Hospice is proud to recognize medical director, Dr. Richard Castaldo, and our team of physicians - Dr. Jay Newman, Dr. Bharat Kohli, Dr. Sameer Mamnoon and Dr. Todd Orszulak -- for their dedicated care of Niagara County hospice patients and their families and caregivers.
Join Us in Saluting Social Workers in March!
As we prepare for the joys of spring, we are pleased to recognize March as National Social Work Month, a commemoration that the National Association of Social Workers introduced in March 1963.
You Can Grieve in Your Own Way
How often have we, who are parents, stated, “This child didn’t come with a training manual?” At times, grief can feel like that, too – “I wasn’t given a training manual for handling this.” And yet, society seeks to impose on us a training manual, of sorts, with comments such as: “You should do this,” “Have you thought about this?” “You should never do that,” and “You really should try this.”
Caregiver Fatigue and How Hospice Can Help
Providing care to an individual in the home can include assisting daily living activities, including grocery shopping, dressing, transferring, toileting, eating and medication administration. People who care for loved ones at home are at risk for developing significant amounts of emotional, financial and physical stress.
Your Shopping on Amazon Contributes to Niagara Hospice
If you shop on Amazon, click here and you will also be contributing 0.5% of all of your purchases to Niagara Hospice.
National Hospice & Palliative Care Month
National Hospice & Palliative Care Month prompts us to reflect on the growth of hospice care and the benefits that professionals and volunteers provide to patients, families and caregivers.
From Kitchen Table Conversation to Caring for 30,000 Families
The year is 1980. Patricia Evans just watched her neighbor and his family struggle with the aftermath of cancer. The family had little to no support, and they were left heartbroken. Patricia is finally getting a chance at working on the foundations for hospice in Niagara County.
Tracing the History of Hospice Care from the Middle Ages to Niagara County
[Photo courtesy of St. Christopher's Hospice]
When exploring the origins of hospice care, one might come up with several different answers. The earliest evidence of “hospice” dates back to the 11th century. This type of comfort care started during the Crusades when all along the routes to and from Jerusalem, there were places where injured, tired or dying men could spend time and be cared for.
What Makes Hospice so Beneficial to Families?
Hospice is a word that has a variety of meanings to different people. It can spark misconceptions of what it really is and how it helps patients and families. Discussing hospice can be a taboo for many families. There are wide-ranging notions of what hospice care is and what it entails, and people who have never experienced its benefits may be unfamiliar with it.
Family of Professionals Caring for Niagara County Families
Caring for a terminally ill loved one presents many challenges. When families seek comfort and symptom management during end-of-life care, they can always turn to Niagara Hospice. We don’t want to see families and caregivers struggling to manage the daily care of their loved one. We are ready to support your needs at any time to help keep patients comfortable at home.
Niagara Hospice is Only Hospice in WNY with ACHC Accreditation
The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has granted Niagara Hospice accreditation for its operational efficiency and health care provider excellence to patients and families.
Thank You for Your Support!
Niagara Hospice is so proud of the community’s prominent role each year in helping expand services while providing the expert end-of-life care, symptom management and caregiver relief to Niagara County families facing a terminal illness.
Giving the Gift of Time Together
As we move through the season of giving, this is an excellent time to reflect and consider how we can contribute to organizations that help others in the community. Whether you are considering an end-of-year contribution, thinking about a long-term sustained gift or including Niagara Hospice in your estate planning, families across Niagara County will benefit from your generosity.
Facing Loss and Isolation Amid a Pandemic
As a result of the pandemic, thousands of families are being denied family gatherings, calling hours, funerals and other burial customs that typically offer comfort and closure. When people are not able to participate in these expected traditions can make coping with a loss even more difficult. Niagara Hospice has several recommendations on how to help manage grief during isolation as a result of the current public health situation.
Strategies for Navigating Holidays With Grief or Loss
Coping with the holidays when you are experiencing grief, loss, depression, S.A.D. or estrangement in your life can be very challenging. There are unwritten cultural norms, expectations and media bombarding us from every direction that say, “It’s the time of the year to be happy.
Meditation for Grief with Rev. Nancy Faery
Niagara Hospice Spiritual & Bereavement Services Director Rev. Nancy Faery provides a video blog about meditating for grief for Niagara County families.
North Tonawanda Family Experiences Comfort & Support at Niagara Hospice House
Whenever I meet a patient at Hospice House, I try to look beyond what is in front of my eyes. I don’t just see a person who is in need of our care, but I look at their story, their life and who they are and what they have done.
