Tag Archives: hospice care

Honoring those who served: Wyoming veteran provides comfort for hospice veterans

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Ryan Gadberry (pictured) is no longer on active duty, yet continues to serve (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Gadberry works to ensure veterans are recognized for their service (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)

Wyoming resident Ryan Gadberry served four years (2013-2017) in the U.S. Marines. While no longer on active-duty, the local veteran continues serving by bringing comfort and recognition to hospice veterans during their end-of-life journey.

Already serving as Property Manager for Hospice of Michigan, Gadberry stepped in to help when he heard Hospice of Michigan needed veteran volunteers.

For the past eight months, Gadberry has used his military experiences to make a meaningful impact.

“I am more than happy to give back,” said Gadberry. “It’s very heartwarming; it makes you feel like you’re doing something really important.”

Camaraderie and compassion

Hospice of Michigan strives to deliver the holistic, loving care veterans deserve. Veteran volunteers make a difference in the lives of others by sitting and visiting with fellow veteran patients.

Gadberry said there is a specific connection between veterans due to shared military training and history.

Wyoming veterans gather at an annual local breakfast (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

“You can meet a total stranger and, once you find out they are a fellow service person, there is an immediate connection,” said Gadberry. “You’re no longer a stranger.”

That connection has been frequently proven, but one instance made a lasting impact on Hospice of Michigan Volunteer Program Manager, Lauren Becker-Barkman.

A lifelong Marine within hours of the end of his life journey was restless, repeatedly reaching and calling out.

“There was no peace in this man’s world at this time,” said Becker-Barkman. “He’s uncomfortable, he’s restless.”

Veterans can make a difference in each other’s lives (Courtesy photo)

The hospice team asked a veteran volunteer to sit with the veteran in hopes of making a difference in his end-of-life journey.

“By the time [the volunteer] left,” said Becker-Barkman, “he was comfortable, he was at peace. He wasn’t calling out, he wasn’t reaching out.”

The veteran passed within a few hours – and what was said during that time together remains unknown.

“We don’t know what was said or what passed between these two veterans, but whatever it was allowed this man to find peace and to be able to go on peacefully,” said Becker-Barkman. “That’s the kind of connection you can’t make up. The impact is immeasurable.”

Gadberry personally cultivates that special connection with hospice veterans through empathy and understanding.

A desire to serve

Gadberry is thankful for his time in the Marines (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)

A first-generation serviceman in his family, Gadberry always knew he wanted to be a Marine.

“Even when I was a kid, that was the plan. Finish high school, join the Marines. That’s what I did.”

Gadberry served as an intelligence analyst, working with several overseas ops – and has no regrets.

“I love that I did it; it definitely turned me into the man I am today.”

And that man gets a visible bounce in his step when meeting fellow veterans.

An unexpected impact

“He gets a little pep in his step knowing that he’s going to meet a veteran,” said Becker-Barkman, adding that Gadberry is also asked to read poems or talk about the impact of veteran connections often. “He’s incredibly humble about being a veteran himself…so to know that he’s also getting some recognition and that he’s continuing to make an impact, it’s really cool.”

A local woman raises her voice in song at a vet pinning ceremony (Courtesy, Hospice of Michigan)

Gadberry said that volunteering has impacted him in ways he didn’t expect – especially the pinning ceremonies.

“What surprised me was the impact it has on the families,” said Gadberry. “It’s overwhelming to see. It’s important to make that veteran feel remembered and seen, but they’re on their end-of-life journey, they’re going to be gone soon. But that ceremony, and those memories, are going to be passed on and kept with the family members for many years to come.”

Though many veterans are recognized for their service through their communities, American Legion or VFW, there are just as many who never see recognition of any kind. Gadberry said giving that recognition to veterans during the last steps of their end-of-life journey is memorable for all involved.

“Every ceremony, every event is completely different,” said Gadberry. “Every time I do it, I take away something different and I learn a little bit more.”

Becker-Barkman said her time with Hospice of Michigan has also been life-changing.

“I’ve learned so much about end-of-life care and what that entails for us as human beings,” said Becker-Barkman. “I get to be surrounded by so many brilliant, loving, giving people that it’s changed my entire outlook on everything.

“It’s magical to be surrounded by people who are so willing to show up for people they don’t know at what can be the hardest time in their life; it’s rejuvenating.”

The value of serving in new ways

Hospice of Michigan is continually in need of compassionate veteran volunteers to provide that much needed support and camaraderie to hospice veterans. Regardless of how they served, the bond between veterans opens a door of trust and communication through mutual understanding.

“Veterans share a unique bond,” said Kathy Lietaert, Hospice of Michigan Statewide Volunteer Program Manager, in supplied material. “Through our veterans hospice program, every act of service by volunteer veterans brings comfort, connection and compassion to hospice veterans who need it most at the end of life.”

Volunteers can make a life-changing impact with a minimal time commitment (Courtesy photo)


Becker-Barkman said they are always looking for more volunteer support, in Grand Rapids and throughout the state – and their volunteering schedule is flexible.

“You could [visit] one patient a month, visit once a week, or whatever fits your schedule,” said Becker-Barkman. “We don’t have any rigid guidelines. We want volunteers to be able to fit this into their lives in a way that’s meaningful and not overwhelming for them.”

Volunteer orientations are hosted on an as-needed basis so prospective volunteers can learn in their own time. Training or previous volunteer experience is not needed. All veterans willing to donate their time and companionship to hospice care patients are welcome.

Gadberry believes that veterans will step in to help once they are aware of the need.

“I was more than happy to help out,” said Gadberry. “I think that will be the case for other veterans out there. If they hear that another veteran needs some form of help, they will always step up.”

Learn more!

Prospective volunteers can contact Lauren Becker-Barkman at 616-250-9110 or lbecker-barkman@hom.org.

Learn more about Hospice of Michigan and submit an online volunteer application here.

Hospice Patient/Family Support Volunteer provides comfort, peace

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Volunteers help bring moments of comfort, joy and dignity to patients in hospice care.  (Photo Courtesy, Adobe Stock)



By Emmanuel Hospice

greer@wktv.org



For retired nurse Amy Lyons, being a volunteer for Emmanuel Hospice continues her lifelong pursuit of caring for others.

As a patient/family support volunteer, she’s at the bedside of a hospice patient providing comfort and peaceful companionship through the end of their life. Sometimes she talks with patients or reads to them, other times she’s more of a calming presence while she holds their hand or crochets a lap blanket.

“I was always taught the Holy Spirit will tell you what you need to do,” she says. “I can’t necessarily provide physical care as a volunteer, and as a former nurse, it’s hard not to help, but you find other ways to support. I’ll play music, hold their hand – whatever makes them comfortable.”

As she leaves a session with a patient, which normally lasts an hour to 90 minutes, she likes to ask if there’s anything she can bring them next time – something that brings them joy.

“One lady said sunflowers,” Lyons recalls. “Well, it was too early for real sunflowers, so I brought artificial ones. I explained this to her, and she said, ‘why yes, it is too early’ and then proceeded to tell me all about growth of sunflowers.

“I believe every patient always has something to teach you. If nothing else, it’s how to die with grace – all of them have been at peace in the end and that makes me happy.”

Lyons has been with several patients in their final moments in what’s known as “sitting vigil” – being at the bedside during someone’s last days or hours as they’re actively dying.

“I find it so rewarding,” she says. “People often ask how can you do that? And I can’t tell them enough what an honor it is to go and be selected to be with a person until their final breath.”

While most vigils last a few hours, the first patient she sat vigil with lasted nine days. She chose to be there with him for three to four hours a night, and when he passed, “It was a relief for both of us.”

“I thought, ‘he’s comfortable now,’ ” she remembers. “That is all I ever want to see, that you’re comfortable with where you’re heading. I tell patients, ‘no matter what you think or what you’ve done or haven’t done, it’s OK. You don’t have to be afraid.’ And for some, it seems that’s all they needed to hear – that it’s all going to be OK.”

Lyons also is a spiritual director trained by the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, so she brings a spiritual side to her hospice volunteer work.

Lyons and her husband, who also is a spiritual director, have curated a library full of spiritual texts to better understand other belief systems and to offer readings that will resonate best with each individual patient.

“Figuring out what faith care they would like, and how to honor that is important to me,” she says.

One of her favorite tools for helping patients feel more comfortable and to open up about their life story is a book that contains a series of questions a father would typically answer for his own kids.

“I’ll look in the book and ask something like, ‘What’s your fondest memory of your grandkids?’ or ‘What do you remember about your grandma?’ and that usually gets people talking,” she says. “I’ll share about my life, too. I explain that being a nurse is very physical work, but I can sit and I can talk to them and hold their hand. I can’t care for them the way I used to, but now I can care for their spirits.

“I would never hesitate to volunteer again. If I knew how rewarding it would be, I would have become a hospice volunteer sooner in my life.”

Emmanuel Hospice is always looking for volunteers in the greater Grand Rapids area to provide companionship and support to patients. The nonprofit matches the unique skills and interests of prospective volunteers with the right opportunity, ensuring each volunteer receives a tailored area of assignment. More information can be found at EmmanuelHospice.org/volunteer.

Education is critical to understanding hospice options

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Emmanuel Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapist Miranda Eden leads a session on the benefits of music therapy at a recent conference on aging in Grand Rapids. (Supplied)

By Emmanuel Hospice

A wise philosopher once said, “Education is the ability to meet life’s situations.”

That’s especially applicable to understanding all the options offered by a hospice organization, according to Jennifer Radaz, education manager at Emmanuel Hospice.

“As we make contacts, we’re constantly assessing a person’s educational needs when it comes to hospice,” she says. “One of our main goals is to inform, and help patients and caregivers understand the scope of our services and how we operate.”

Radaz says that often means countering misconceptions about hospice care, including the mistaken notion that you must necessarily be within your last hours or days to receive services.

 

“As a result, we see a lot of late referrals, where people have been ill for some time and were unaware they could have had all of our services a long time beforehand,” Radaz notes. “The longer hospice is able to develop a relationship with a patient and their family, the better we can care and prepare them both for what lies ahead.”

Radaz points to critically ill cardiac patients in particular, noting that heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, and yet those suffering from heart disease typically wait too long to summon hospice for assistance. They sometimes receive only a few days’ care when, in reality, they qualified for hospice and could have taken advantage of hospice services for weeks or even months prior to their deaths.

Another misconception that Emmanuel seeks to address is that a hospice takes over with a plan of their own.

 

“We do not come in with an agenda,” Radaz explains. “Rather, we’re there to work with family and other caregivers, eager to know what matters to them, and how we can best address their needs. We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all.”

 

Emmanuel also strives to educate people that their brand of hospice care is funded by Medicare and private donations to support programs, like complementary therapies. This enables Emmanuel to provide core nursing, pain management, grief support and related services, as well as complementary therapies that bring music, massage, art and much more to the bedside.

Participants at a recent aging conference in Grand Rapids participate in a music therapy program. (Supplied)

“We want to approach people on multiple levels for their pain and management,” Radaz says, “and part of that is providing those soothing human touches that aren’t addressed by conventional medicine.”

Educating the public doesn’t stop at patients and caregivers, she emphasizes. Emmanuel, for instance, is constantly seeking ways to make connections with communities of caregivers that includes doctors, nurses and social workers. In fact, much of what they offer in a formal setting will count toward continuing education hours for health professionals.

Additionally, Emmanuel often delivers presentations at businesses, organizations, colleges and universities and professional conferences to promote better understanding of hospice and its benefits. The nonprofit also reaches out to retirement communities and medical facilities, continually exploring new ways to share its mission, philosophy and array of services with those who need it most.

“We believe that information is key,” Radaz explains, “and that it’s wonderful to be informed. We’re happy to provide that information in whatever setting is comfortable for that person. And there’s never any obligation. Sometimes, people aren’t ready to sign on for hospice; they just want to understand their options going forward.

“We’re happy to simply establish a relationship. As changes occur, we can step in, but only when that door is open to us. In the meantime, we’re happy to have those conversations.”