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JULY 2018

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Save the Date - Fazeli Cellars Winery - Saturday September 22, 2018 5:00 - 10:00 PM

Notes From Friends

Hospice of the Valleys serves hundreds of patients each and every year. We honor them by sharing their stores. They remind us every day of the meaning and purpose in our work and that human connection is at the heart of the hospice experience

The following are notes Hospice of the Valleys has received from the families of patients that we have been privileged to provide hospice care.

"I wanted to say thank you for taking such amazing care of my dad. This company was unbelievable. Every Nurse was so compassionate and helpful. We are beyond thankful for the care that was given to my dad. We all just want to say thank you for everything. Every Employee in this Company that assisted us was amazing."

"My family and I wanted to thank you all for the wonderful care you gave our mother. The nurses were especially caring and thoughtful. Thanks for their excellent care and knowledge. Hospice does so much for people who are terminal and make their final days as comfortable as possible. You're truly a great organization.

Amazon Smile. You shop. Amazon Gives.

If you love to shop Amazon, consider using
Amazonsmile.org
and designating Hospice of the Valleys as your charity of choice. Amazonsmile offers all that Amazon does, and Hospice of the Valleys will benefit at no cost to you!

When does Grief End?

By: Dr. Lynn Euzenas

Director of Spiritual Care & Bereavement Services

Dr. Lynn Euzenas - Hospice of the ValleysOne of the most heartbreaking questions grief counselors get asked is, "When does grief end?" The question has various incarnations: "When will this be over?" "How can I still feel this sad?" "When will my children stop asking me to be happy again?"

However the question manifests, it hits at some of the most painful and profound truths about grief. Grief is a long lasting and painful. Grief can be both cruel and poignant, relentless and gently nagging. Grief can be a powerful seductress: finally letting us feel as if we are doing better, and then slamming us down into a place of deep sadness again. Grief is "not fair", but if we expect grief to be an easy, step-wise, or rational process, we are bound to be on the pain train for awhile.

The reality of grief is that it is a process. It will have drastic ups and downs and ebbs and flows. Fredda Wasserman says that in grief, "your heart is not on a time schedule." The process of grieving is unique to each, and will take however long it will take as we seek to piece together heart and soul and find the means of moving back towards wholeness. Yes, we can move back towards wholeness, but it is a wholeness that is different than before our loss, and it is a wholeness which will come to embrace grief itself.

James Van Praagh is correct when he suggests that grief is the end of one thing and the beginning of another. The depth of the initial profound loss in grief cannot be erased from our heart's memory. The heart's memory will always grieve the loss of a loved one; though slowly, the initial sharpness of grief will transform itself into a deep strength. A retreat center I used to visit left a huge oak tree where it fell in the middle of a walking path, blocking it. Coming upon it, its massive root system was stunning. I could not help but stop to look. If I looked long enough, and with enough care, I could see the miracle at hand. The massive roots and grown around and embraced many smooth stones, large and small. The power of life itself surrounded these stones and made them inseparably one with the root. Even a chainsaw could not easily cut through these amazingly resilient roots.

Grief is like that. The power of our life itself can, and will grow around the sadness and the loss, and strength us, to our roots... our core. When our griefs become integrated with us, we experience the truth of Elizabeth Kubler Ross' words: "You will heal and you will rebuild yourselves around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again, but you will never be the same again. Nor should you be the same, nor should you want to."

Freedom is not Free

Dr. Leslee B. Cochrane

Executive Medical Director

Dr. Leslee Cochrane - Hospice of the ValleysI celebrated the 4th of July with my family at Sea World of San Diego last week and was thrilled that the park honored current and retired military members with free admission and special recognition throughout the day. During one of the shows we attended, there was a program commemorating the service and sacrifice of those who protect and maintain our daily freedoms and those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Each year was we celebrate Independence Day, we are reminded that our freedom is not free and that we all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who serve in our military.

At Hospice of the Valleys, we are honored to participate in the We Honor Veterans Program. Through this recognition program, Veterans are presented with a certificate of appreciate at the time of Hospice admission and when requested, a special pinning ceremony is provided. Veterans are presented a special pin by a member of the military in recognition of their service. Additionally, our team works closely with the Veterans and their family to ensure that they are able to access many special services available to our honored Veterans including funds available to assist with the cost of providing aid and attendance, special healthcare benefits and cemetery and burial benefits.

Many Veteran families are surprised to discover that there is a benefit called Aid and Attendance that provides a monthly pension for the Veteran or their dependent spouse. This benefit is available if they meet certain conditions such as needing assistance to perform personal functions such as bathing, feeding, and dressing. It is not necessary that the disability causing the need for assistance be service related.

To find out more about our We Honor Veterans Program, please call our office 951-200-7800. Hospice of the Valleys salutes our brave military families for the sacrifice they have made to keep America the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave."

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  • Top Work Places 2014-2021 Award
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