From Kitchen Table Conversation to Caring for 28,000 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.
Guiding & Supporting Families is a Dual Mission for Laurie Stickney, LMSW
Why work in hospice care? I asked this question once, but Laurie Stickney, LMSW, seemed to incorporate it into every answer. She has discovered over the years that being a counselor is not just her career, but it is also who she is, down to the core.
The Hospice Gran Fondo is July 24 --Why do you ride?
Niagara Hospice has been helping patients and families throughout Niagara County for more than 33 years. One way that the community can say thank you and give back to the organization is by participating in the annual Hospice Gran Fondo bike ride. This fun, family-oriented fundraiser event takes place on Saturday, July 24 on the Niagara Hospice campus at 4675 Sunset Drive in Lockport.
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.
Our Nurses Provide Their Perspectives During Nurses Week
National Nurses Week is May 6-12 and Niagara Hospice is proud to recognize our highly experienced, compassionate team of nurses who all have unique roles and carry out different functions.
Recognizing National Nurses Week
Thank you to all the nurses out there for choosing a profession committed to providing selfless service to others.
Health Care Decisions Day is April 16
Do you know who will make health care decisions for you if you can't?
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.
April is Counseling Awareness Month
April is National Counseling Awareness Month. Counselors work as mental health specialists in many settings throughout the community. They work in clinics, private practices, agencies, hospitals, schools, prisons, and in other settings.
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.
Rediscovering Holiday Peace
Holiday traditions are rife with history and connections to times gone by. They are connections to a time when your loved one was alive and well, and participating in the festivities. You know by now that nothing will ever be the same in your life; it is forever changed by the life and death of this person.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Niagara Hospice Virtual Remembrance Ceremony
We invite you to watch our Bereavement Department's Virtual Remembrance Ceremony for summer of 2020.
Navigating the Grieving Process Video
Laurie Stickney, LMWS, Niagara Hospice Medical Social Worker & Bereavement Counselor discusses the process of navigating grief.
Thanking A Dedicated Volunteer After 25 Years of Service
April is National Volunteer Month. Niagara Hospice is proud to recognize all of our volunteers during this month and throughout the year. While our volunteers are currently unable to work directly with patients during the COVID-19 outbreak, some of our volunteers continue to contribute from home by making protective masks. This volunteer blog features Dorothy Socie, who joined the organization in 1995 after seeing an ad in the local newspaper seeking individuals to help with office duties.
Hospice and Dementia - Providing Comfort, Dignity and Care with a Difficult Diagnosis
A diagnosis of dementia can be difficult to hear, not only for the individual affected, but also for their loved ones and caregivers. Diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and other related dementia conditions are irreversible and have no cure or treatment, and as dementia progresses, patients often lose their memory, ability to engage and hold a conversation or even achieve activities of daily living on their own.
What's the Role of Medicare & Medicaid in Hospice?
Government health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are designed to help shoulder the cost burden of medical expenses for financially vulnerable Americans. These entitlement and insurance programs assist people with all types of care for a wide range of health services, among them hospice care
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.
Niagara Hospice Podcast #3 With Jane James, NP, Director of Admissions
Niagara Hospice presents its third podcast to answer common questions about hospice care for patients with late-stage illnesses and their families or caregivers. You can listen to Jane James, NP, Director of Admissions, at Niagara Hospice, address a variety of questions related to the referral and admission process.
Niagara Hospice Podcast #2 With Danielle Burngasser, RN, BSN, Vice President of Hospice Clinical Services
Niagara Hospice presents its second podcast to answer common questions about hospice care for patients with late-stage illnesses and their families or caregivers. In this episode, Danielle Burngasser, RN, BSN, Vice President of Hospice Clinical Services at Niagara Hospice, discusses community care and partner facilities.
