Whispers from Pines of Peace Comfort Care Home Volume 15 – Fall 2013

1. Whispers from Pines of Peace Comfort Care Home Volume 15 – Fall 2013 Director’s Note by Sherry Verstraete A few weeks ago I attended a seminar that including information about MOLST Forms which direct end-of-life care. Studies show most Americans want to die at home, yet 75% die in a hospital or nursing home. Not planning has significant financial and emotional impact. MOLST will become the most important acronym for many. (Medical Orders for Life-sustaining Treatment). By completing a MOLST Form, you can ensure your end-of-life wishes are known and honored. In 2008, New York State signed into law a bill that gives us a tool to ensure a person’s end-of-life wishes are followed. This law permits use of the MOLST program. This form is completed by you and your physician. It delineates what treatments you want and do not want at end-of-life. It addresses CPR, feeding tubes, antibiotics, IVs, breathing machines and whether or not you want to be hospitalized. Individuals facing serious life-threatening illness and approaching death deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion and to receive care that is focused on the individual’s goals for care. Families need and deserve to receive support. To achieve their goals, individuals need to plan ahead, know their choices, make sound decisions and share their wishes with their loved ones and health care professionals. When this form is signed by you and your physician, it becomes a medical order. Your MOLST form is recognized as your end-of-life wishes and will be honored by paramedics, hospitals, emergency rooms and physicians. The MOLST form is a tool to discuss and plan end-of-life care. MOLST forms differ from living wills and health care proxies which are for everyone over the age of 18. MOLST was created to give those with advanced age, chronic illness and the seriously ill a way to communicate their end-of-life wishes. When you write a living will you are healthy and are planning on a hypothetical future event. MOLST forms address the here and now of a patient’s specific current condition or illness. As more learn about and complete these forms they will be a priceless emotional benefit to the patient and their families knowing end-of-life wishes will be communicated and honored. To learn more about MOLST forms and other directives please talk to your doctor or visit website: compassionandsupport.org Until next time… love, laughter and peace

2. Volunteer’s note bySharon Pray I have been volunteering at the Pines of Peace for about 6 years. My reasons for starting were twofold. One, being retired, I had some free time and second both my father and sister were recipients of comfort care in the last few days of their lives, and I wanted to give back to the system. I started by joining the committees that worked on the annual auction/luncheon and the golf tournament. It soon became apparent that more help was needed in many areas, so I have also been helping with planning for craft shows, mailings, remembrance ceremony, etc. This volunteering has been very rewarding. To see the gratitude of the families of our residents is heartwarming. It has also been a great ego trip as many comment on all that myself and other volunteers do for the Pines of Peace. I can only hope that my contribution in some small way brings comfort to our residents and their families. What does the Pines of Peace mean to others? Families tell us in various ways. Some send a card of thanks “… my grandma Kay grew to love each and every one of you. All of you were like family and Pines of Peace was her home. Each one of you gave her happiness…” or “…I can’t begin to thank you for all you did for my dear friend, Joe” “May all the angels who go through come back and bless you 100 fold!” “I cannot believe you have been open and serving the community for 15 years!” “Thank you for everyone’s support!” Ten year anniversary with co-founders and members of the Board of Directors Upcoming Events October 10th Remembrance Service - Living Word Assembly of God Craft Shows Good time to stock up on soup, brownie mix, apple crisp mix and cookbooks before the Holidays! November is National Hospice Month November 2nd Williamson Quilt Show November 3rd Volunteer Recognition Tea November 9th Lincoln Fire Hall - Craft Show November 15th Wine and Culinary Event Webster Golf Club November 16th Webster Craft Show December 7th Eastside YMCA Craft Show

3. Board of Director’s Note by Brian Smith I’m the newest member of Pines’ Board of Directors.  I grew up in Ontario, left the area for school, and spent most of the next 40 years living and working in other parts of the world.  After retirement my wife and I bought a home in Williamson--this may be the first instance of someone moving to the area upon retirement. It’s a good place to live and one of the reasons is because of the service provided by Pines of Peace and the support Pines enjoys from the community.   I therefore was honored when asked to join the Board of Directors.  We, the directors are responsible for general oversight of Pines of Peace and ensuring it's managed in the best interests of our community.  2013 marked Pines of Peace’s fifteenth year of operation. This year 22 of our friends and neighbors ended their final stage of life at Pines, and since 1998, almost 400.  As most readers know, the goal of Pines of Peace is to provide end of life support in a home-like environment for the terminally ill.  This support can take the place of family members when none are available and can allow those who are to better focus their energies on making the best of their last days with a resident.  What is perhaps less known is that this support is provided at no cost to residents or their families and with no government assistance. There are of course costs in providing this support, and Pines of Peace residents, their families and the community recognize this.  Generous contributions to Pines of Peace, both large and small, through memorials, grants, annual auction, golf tournament, garage sale, baked food, dinner sales and other donations help provide financial support. This enables Pines of Peace to remain in existence.  This year we were able to fund a badly needed upgrade of five air conditioning units solely through grants. Pines of Peace needs your continued financial support to continue its operation. However, not all support is financial, and much of the work is done by volunteers from the community.  This support ranges from 6th grade students to Eagle Scouts to retirees that just can’t seem to put down a hammer, paint brush or garden rake, along with others who provide care and comfort.  Again, without your help, there would be no Pines of Peace. The staff of Pines of Peace are especially impressive.  Most people, given the opportunity, avoid consideration of death.  But not those that work at Pines; they embrace it.  And unlike others in health care, they aren't shielded from death’s darkness by being able to hope “well maybe this time we can beat this thing.”   Instead, they are motivated solely by a desire to make the patient’s remaining time the best it can be.  We all owe them our thanks and admiration.

4. Wish List Keurig K-Cups Tissues Disinfectant Wipes – NON bleach Laundry Detergent High Efficiency Unscented Fabric Softener Sheets Unscented Spray Stain Remover Liquid Dishwasher Soap and Rinse Agents Baby Wipes Body Wash Stamps Bags of individually wrapped candy - especially chocolate Individually packaged snacks (variety packs of chips, crackers etc.) “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” ….. Abraham Lincoln Mrs. M loved doing puzzles and sitting in the living room visiting with her friends.. We kept the coffee on and a plate of cookies for her visitors. Visit us on our website at: www.pinesofpeace.org Email us at: directorpop@rochester.rr.com Friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PinesofPeace Contact us at: (315) 524-2388 Fax us at: (315) 524-4377 Thank you Dynalec Corporation for underwriting the distribution costs for the Capital Campaign / Newsletter. Mrs. F was a staunch supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness. The pink symbol was on her glass case and even her fishing pole! Mr. S., a local shop teacher, taught many of the staff and volunteers