In recognition of this important month of awareness of quality end-of-life care, we share the words of Jackie, whose husband George was on our Hospice Care service.
“As you know, my husband George passed away on July 16th. He is now resting peacefully with our son Eric, who passed away in 2005.
The purpose of this letter is to thank all the caring individuals who took great care of George during his last weeks of life. From the initial visit to the last visit- each individual that entered our home was caring and supportive from day one.
Kristie explained everything with great care and compassion – she answered all our questions with patience and was very thorough. She is knowledgeable and thoughtful, made the process seem effortless.
Karen was amazing – the respect she provided to my husband allowed him to maintain his dignity during an extremely difficult stage in his life. George was a proud man – Karen allowed him to maintain his pride and dignity to the very end.
Maureen was an enormous strength and support resource to both George and I. She is easy to talk to – allowing us the time, compassion and the patience we needed. She also did a magnificent job at the graveside service. Her words were extremely comforting.
Having the strength and support of your family during a difficult time in life is something we all expect, but having the same care, compassion and strength from complete strangers is a gift. I am very thankful for Cornerstone and your amazing employees – Thank You for all you do!”
Cornerstone VNA has achieved level four status with the We Honor Veterans program. This special recognition reflects our commitment to ensuring veterans like George have access to quality end-of-life care. This week of Veteran’s Day, our team will be delivering pins and certificates to all of our Veterans who are under our Hospice care and George’s memorial rock in our memorial garden was marked with an American flag for our Virtual Hospice Memorial Service this autumn.
Our Hospice team includes nurses, physicians, licensed nursing assistants, medical social workers, spiritual care providers, volunteers and bereavement counselors. Our nurses are available 24 hours a day to monitor and treat symptoms and will teach you and your family what to expect as the illness progresses. Our goal is to provide physical, emotional and spiritual comfort to each patient as well as support to family members and caregivers. We offer bereavement counseling and support to families for 13 months beyond the loss of their loved one and also host community bereavement support groups.
Kristie Bonyman, Hospice Social Worker
Karen Baldiga, Hospice Nurse
Maureen Steer, Holistic Disciplines Manager
Hospice is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances. We welcome you to contact us if you need further assistance with understanding your insurance benefit. It is never too soon to learn about hospice, even if hospice is not the right kind of care for you at this time. It is best to access hospice services as soon as you are eligible. In doing so, we will be able to provide improved symptom management, and provide guidance and support to you and your family during your end-of-life journey.
If you or a loved one are in need of hospice services, please give us a call at 603-332-1133. Our knowledgeable staff members are always here for you to offer guidance and support.