December Newsletter 2023 - Hospice of the Valleys

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December 2023

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Notes from Friends Hospice of the Valleys serves hundreds of patients every year. We honor them by sharing their stories. They remind us every day of the meaning and purpose of our work and that human connection is at the heart of the hospice experience. The following are notes Hospice of the Valleys have received fr4om the families of patients that we have been privileged to provide hospice care. "Every member of my husband's care team treated both of us with patience, kindness, and care during a very stressful and emotional time. What a sweet blessing his nurse Melissa, was to both of us." "My beautiful wife of 49 years, experience care and compassion during her last days at home thanks to the care and support of Hospice of the Valleys." "We truly appreciate what you do for our community. Thank you for your care and love to both patients and family."

Celebrate the Heart of Volunteering Become a Hospice Volunteer Hospice is about family and community... And volunteers bring heart to hospice. Our team always had the need for volunteers in patient support, music, veteran to veteran support, fundraising, administrative support and more. Hold a Hand-Give a Hug-Touch a Heart. Becoming a hospice volunteers is a meaningful and rewarding experience. You can make a difference! *Seeking bi-lingual volunteers for patient support and music* Hospice of the Valleys: Canyon Lake, Fallbrook, Hemet, Homeland, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Nuevo, Perris, Quail Valley, Romoland, San Jacinto, Sun City, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester Please contact Chrisy Lawless, Volunteer Manager 951-200-7800 or CLawless@hovsc.org for more information. You may also refer to our website page HospiceoftheValleys.org for new training updates.

Seeking Fundraising Volunteers - You can make a difference - Outgoing and Self-Motivated - Detail-Oriented and Good organization skills - Ability to Interact Positively with Guests and a Team. If this sounds like you, we'd love to talk with you about how you can help! Please contact: Chrisy Lawless 951-200-7800 | CLawless@Hovsc.org

Hospice of the Valleys would like to wish our amazing community a happy holiday season and blessed 2024

The Gift of Giving - Consider giving a year-end tax-eductible donation to Hospice of the Valleys. Perhaps you and your family can consider donating in lieu of gift-giving this holiday season. Or, donate knowing you are blessing another family with the gift of peace as they watch their loved one make their final transition. Your special donation gives the gift of love and hope and will forever be cherished by hospice families in our community. Thank you. Sincerely, Hospice of the Valleys Your Local Community Hospice

Sacred Space Mike Patton Bereavement Counselor/Spiritual Care The best and simplest definition of "sacred" is "set apart as special." This is important as a foundation for the inspiration I offer. Recently I was sitting in a comfy living room that was home to a dearly loved mother who was resting comfortably in a hospital bed, unable to respond to verbal stimuli, but with a beautiful look of peace on her face. The purpose of my meeting with the caregiving daughter was to offer support to her as she was preparing for the imminent death of her mother. In the course of our conversation I made the observation that we were sitting in "sacred space". Unpacking the phrase became obvious to me as I read the puzzled look on her face. I gently explained that what she had created was a beautiful nest within the home of her mother where love, soft blankets and pillows for warmth and comfort, had been carefully arranged for the moment when she would take her last breath and, according to her faith tradition, "God would come to her and take her home." So, the inspiration that blessed me and is my intended message for you, is to create sacred space for the well-being of another... whether it is a holiday party you are hosting, a family gathering you are attending, or the hospital bed of a beloved family member you are caring for. Whatever the occasion set aside a special time and space to honor a loved one and enter into the sacred space you have created. Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays Military Families During the holiday season, many of us turn our attention to those in need. One group that endures great hardship, but is often overlooked, is the military family. Most of us do not stop to think about the responsibilities and pain these families bear - especially around the holidays. Throughout the year, they sacrifice time spent with their spouse or parent during deployments, they sacrifice friendships and a stable home life each time they move across country, and they sacrifice peace of mind because they love someone in a dangerous occupation. These stresses are only magnified from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. And even though military deployment is necessary to help keep peace around the world, for military families it means long separations, emotional distress and lifestyle adjustments. Deployment during the holidays means that the military dependents commemorate Christmas dinner and ring in the New Year as an incomplete unit, while the deployed member spends the day without family in a foreign, or even hostile country. Imagine how heartbreaking it must be for a parent consoling a child who doesn't understand why Mommy or Daddy can't b e home with them to enjoy the Thanksgiving turkey, light the Hanukkah Menorah, open presents on Christmas or watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve. So, as you consider helping those in need this holiday season or throughout the year, recognize the many sacrifices military families make. If you know a military family with a deployed spouse, consider making them a part of your family over the holidays. Invite them over for Christmas dinner, offer to take a family holiday portrait to send to the deployed family member, or perhaps send a small gift to the children. However you may choose to help a military family, consider it a gesture of thanks for the sacrifices they have made to help preserve our freedom. By serving their families, you are honoring those who serve our country.

Volunteer Corner As the holidays approach and we prepare to ring in 2024, our heartfelt thanks goes out to our amazing volunteers! Thank yhou for making this time of the year brighter for us. We wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

Host a Fundraiser! Would your business like to host a small community fundraiser, benefitting Hospice of the Valleys? This is a great way to have your group give back, and it can be simple! Perhaps you consider a "round up" program, giving people the ability to donate, or some sort of sponsorship initiative. IF you are interested, please contact Gina O' Bryant - 951-200-7815

Junior Advisory Board Our amazing Junior Advisory Board was hard at work making holiday cards for our patients and their families. A huge thank you to their creativity and generosity!

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