August 30, 2010

Introduction to Hospice Volunteering Scheduled

BALDWIN, WI (August 30) - “A Special Way of Caring: An introduction to Hospice Volunteering” is being offered by the not-for-profit ADORAY Home Health and Hospice, Baldwin in September.

Two sessions are being held on Monday, September 13, 10am to noon, at St. Croix Regional Medical Center, or 6:30pm to 8:30pm, at Amery Regional Medical Center. The third session is on Tuesday, September 14, 6:30 to 8:30 at the Balsam Lake Government Center. You need only attend one of the sessions.

Those who choose to become volunteers will attend two days of classes, September 20 and 30, from 8am to 5pm at Amery Regional Medical Center. ADORAY Hospice patients living in Polk County are especially in need of hospice volunteers.

The training prepares community members to become part of the ADORAY Hospice team. Those in attendance learn the philosophy of hospice care and are prepared for the complex challenges patients and their families face when coping with a terminal illness. The training also covers the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of death and dying.

For more information, please call Debbie Milligan at 800-359-0174 or 715-684-5020. Registration for the two-hour class is preferred, but not required.

Since 1995, ADORAY’s home health and hospice programs, www.adoray.org, have served over five thousand patients, primarily in St. Croix, Polk, Pierce, and Western Dunn Counties.

July 19, 2010

Long Time Hospice Advocate Retires

BALDWIN, WI (July 19) - ADORAY Home Health and Hospice announced the retirement of long-time employee and hospice advocate Nancy Firth, RN, BSN.

The Hudson resident’s career in hospice spans 28 years. Firth started the hospice program at Hudson Hospital in 1982. She held various offices with Wisconsin's Hospice Organization (HOPE) and was state representative for the National Council of States for NHPCO, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. She also lobbied in Washington, DC to promote quality care for hospice patients and families.

 "I believe hospice care is a vital part of health care," said Firth. "It's been around for many years, but still misunderstood. My hope is that even more people will become aware of hospice and gain a better understanding of how and when to use this valuable service."

Firth joined ADORAY in 1995 as Hospice Clinical Coordinator, when Hudson Hospital, along with Baldwin Area Medical Center, River Falls Area Hospital and Westfields Hospital, New Richmond, formed the not-for-profit ADORAY Home Health and Hospice, formerly named Heartland Home Care Network. As a field nurse, she compassionately cared for hundreds of hospice patients in their homes. In 2006, she took the role of ADORAY Hospice Patient Care Coordinator.

"She has made a difference in our communities and state-wide in bringing quality hospice care to patients," said Mary Troftgruben, ADORAY executive director. "We've been fortunate to have her in our organization."

ADORAY Hospice provides professional physical, emotional and spiritual care to people of any age with a terminal illness. ADORAY Home Health promotes independent living and recuperation in the home from an injury or surgery, recovering from a stroke or heart attack, or coping with a chronic condition such as diabetes. For more information, visit www.adoray.org, or call 715-684-5020 or 800-359-0174.

July 7, 2010

3M Gives to ADORAY on Behalf of 3M Volunteers

BALDWIN, WI (July 7) - The 3M Foundation has donated over $1,700 to ADORAY Home Health and Hospice, in recognition of several employees and retirees’ commitment to the community.

Current and retired 3M employees: Margaret Blum, Roberts; Donald Hale, Hudson; Michael Hamerski, Baldwin; Diane Kircher, Hammond; James Nelson, Woodville; Linda Proch, Hudson; and Helen Rosen, Glenwood City; qualified for the 3M volunteer match, by donating 25 hours or more per calendar year. ADORAY volunteers sit with and read to hospice patients, help with office tasks, or provide customer service at Treasures from the Heart, Baldwin and River Falls, to raise funds for ADORAY’s home health and hospice programs.

“3M employees and retirees generously give their time and skills to help others,” said Robin Torgerson, vice-president, 3M Community Affairs. “We are pleased to recognize their commitment to their communities.”

ADORAY is a not-for-profit program of St. Croix Valley Shared Services, Inc., proudly owned by Baldwin Area Medical Center; Hudson Hospital & Clinics; River Falls Area Hospital; and Westfields Hospital, New Richmond. Visit www.adoray.org for information on their programs and Treasures from the Heart stores.

May 7, 2010

ADORAY Hospice Memorial Service Honors Loved Ones

BALDWIN, WI (May 7) - The community is invited to attend the annual ADORAY Hospice Memorial Program on Sunday, May 16 at 4pm. The non-denominational event to honor deceased loved ones is being held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 503 County Road UU, Hudson. Loved ones who have died on ADORAY Hospice in the past year will be remembered during the program.

ADORAY Home Health and Hospice is a not-for-profit program of St. Croix Valley Shared Services, Inc., owned by the four hospitals in St. Croix County including Baldwin Area Medical Center, Hudson Hospital & Clinics, River Falls Area Hospital, and Westfields Hospital, New Richmond.

February 18, 2010

Treasures from the Heart Sale Benefits ADORAY Hospice

BALDWIN, WI (Feb 18) - Treasures from the Heart, River Falls is celebrating their seventh anniversary with a sale on Sunday, February 28, 11am to 3pm. All clothing 50% off and other in-store specials.

Treasures from the Heart, where you’ll find great used goods at pennywise prices, provides funding for the not-for-profit ADORAY Home Health and Hospice, www.adoray.org, serving patients and their families in St. Croix, Pierce, Polk, and Western Dunn Counties.

For more information, contact Treasures from the Heart, 200 S. Main, River Falls, 715-425-9771.

February 8, 2010

Hospice Care Expands in Polk County

BALDWIN, WI (Feb. 8) – ADORAY Home Health and Hospice is pleased to inform you of the expansion of our service area for Hospice Care to patients in ALL of Polk County. This change is effective immediately due to the repeated requests for hospice services in the entire Polk County region.

ADORAY Hospice provides physical, emotional and spiritual care of people of any age with a terminal illness. Our team of health care professionals includes: registered nurses; aides; medical social service workers; spiritual counselors; volunteers; and physical, speech, massage and occupational therapists.

To schedule a free in-home assessment or to answer your hospice questions, call ADORAY at 800-359-0174 or 715-684-5020.

ADORAY is a not-for-profit program of St. Croix Valley Shared Services, Inc., owned by Baldwin Area Medical Center, Hudson Hospital & Clinics, River Falls Area Hospital, and Westfields Hospital, New Richmond. Since 1995, ADORAY’s home health and hospice programs have served nearly five thousand patients in St. Croix, Pierce, Polk and Western Dunn Counties. Visit www.adoray.org to learn more about our home health and hospice programs.

May 14, 2009

Hospice in West-Central Wisconsin Underutilized

If there were services available to give quality end-of-life care to a terminally ill loved one, would you use them? What if that same program helped your family cope during this difficult time?
The obvious answer would be "yes." However, based on a recent analysis to determine area hospice utilization, many residents who qualify for hospice in St. Croix, Pierce, Polk and Western Dunn Counties are not using the services.    According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), in 2007, about 39% of all patients who died in the U.S. were under the care of hospice.
"Compared to the national average, West-Central Wisconsin underutilizes hospice care by nearly two-thirds," reported Mary Troftgruben, ADORAY Executive Director, based on the study conducted for the not-for-profit ADORAY Home Health and Hospice, Baldwin.
"We don't know exactly why it is so low in this area," Troftgruben said, " but there certainly are a lot of myths out there about hospice and we are continually trying to educate and dispel the misconceptions."

Myth - Hospice means giving up hope.
   "Many patients and families don' t understand the benefit of using hospice," said Kristen Straining, ADORAY Hospice Manager. "The term ' hospice' is often associated with giving up."
   "In reality, hospice care is about "living until you die," and our staff and volunteers support that in ways that are meaningful to our patients," Straining said.
   Hospice services aggressively address physical symptoms and help patients deal with difficult spiritual or psycho-social issues. Patients often stabilize and even improve once they begin receiving hospice services.
   "Some patients are discharged from our hospice program because their condition improves," Straining noted.
   For those that do not improve, hospice gives patients and families a chance to share the end-of-life journey through personal, emotional and spiritual connections.

Myth - Hospice care is expensive.
   "Most people don't realize the tremendous financial burden that is lifted with hospice care," said Straining.
   Under the Hospice Medicare Benefit, and with most insurance companies, the hospice agency accepts a set payment amount per day. With this set amount, the patient receives all intermittent visits needed for care, including visits from nurses, social service workers, spiritual counselors, aides, and therapists. In addition, the benefit pays for all medications, supplies and equipment needed in caring for the patient's terminal illness. Following the patient's death, professional bereavement staff is available to provide support to loved ones for a minimum of one year.
   "We need to do additional fundraising to cover our costs, but most of our patients and families never even see a bill," Troftgruben noted.

Myth - Hospice is only for cancer patients.
   Hospice services are available to any individual with a life expectancy of six months or less, regardless of their illness. In 2007, cancer was the diagnoses of about 40% of hospice patients, according to NHPCO. Hospice also serves patients and their families who are coping with the end-stage of conditions such as heart disease, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, lung disease, stroke or kidney disease.

Myth - Hospice is a place you go and stay.
   Most hospice care is provided to patients in their homes and some receive hospice in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
   "ADORAY provides care in patients' homes, in over 20 area nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and area hospitals," reported Straining.
   "We want to raise the awareness of the benefits of hospice to people in West-Central Wisconsin," Troftgruben said. "It's an ongoing process. We have served hundreds of patients in the St. Croix Valley area for over fourteen years and we want to provide information about hospice so residents can make informed decisions regarding care for themselves or a loved one."
   If you have questions about hospice services or end-of-life care, please call ADORAY Home Health and Hospice at 715-684-5020 or 800-359-0174, or visit their website at www.adoray.org.
   ADORAY is a program of St. Croix Valley Shared Services, a not-for-profit corporation owned by four area hospitals: Baldwin Area Medical Center, Hudson Hospital & Clinics, River Falls Area Hospital, and Westfields Hospital, New Richmond.

May 7, 2009

ADORAY Hospice Memorial Service Honors Loved Ones

BALDWIN, WI (May 7) - The community is invited to attend the annual ADORAY Hospice Memorial Program on Sunday, May 17 at 4pm. The non-denominational event to honor deceased loved ones is being held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 503 County Road UU, Hudson. Loved ones who have died in ADORAY Hospice care within the past year will be remembered during the program.

May 5, 2009

Thompson Receives Certification   

BALDWIN, WI (May 5) - Hudson native Gina Thompson, Occupational Therapist for ADORAY Home Health and Hospice, recently completed a 50-hour course in St. Paul, Minnesota to become certified in lymphedema and venous edema management.

Thompson has provided occupational therapy to patients in their homes since joining ADORAY nearly three years ago. The training provided her with new methods to help improve patients' health.

"The course taught techniques I can use with patients who have fluid retention due to lymph nodes which have been removed or are not working properly, or other types of swelling from an underlying cause," Thompson said.

"Gina's training will be very useful for our patients with wounds," said Kathy Peabody, ADORAY RN, Wound Care Certified. "The ability to control lymphedema is an important factor in healing wounds."

Thompson received her degree in occupational therapy from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1996. She grew up in Hudson and now lives there with her husband and two young children.