Our mission

 

Our mission is to offer practical help to increase the comfort and peace of a terminally ill friend and to assist their loved ones in organizing helpers and activities during this precious time.

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How we help

 

From the start of illness -We ask questions of those involved and let them know that we are here to provide practical help and guidance when needed about these areas:

 

1. Help identify an Advocate. If the spouse is the advocate, help find a second advocate.

Definition: Advocate is a person who pleads the cause of another. It is a friend or family member who is looking out for the well being of another and is aware of their needs.     

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2. Ask if End of Life documents are in place.

• Suggestions: Mary Hinrichs, Deborah Hoerner to aid in filling them out.

• Suggested List of suggested attorneys

 

3. Evaluate home accommodations

• Assess need for repairs or equipment

• Resources for house repairs:

  • FREED - Center for Independent Living

  • MSSP - Multipurpose Senior Services Program

  • RCAC - Rural Community Assistance Corporation

  • Resources for Home Repairs

  • Yuba-Sutter Habitat for Humanity

 

4. Determine if a Care Team is needed.

Definition: A Care Team is an inner circle of friends that can help someone in need

• The Circle of Friends can organize a private or semi-public online Volunteer page to schedule visits, meals, rides or anything else.

• Help can be provided in the form of visits, meals, rides, letters, cards, conversation, company, music, poetry, impressions, nature, touch, and more

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5. Discuss Palliative Care and make referrals (pending research).

Definition: Palliative Care is appropriate for people...

Most hospitals offer palliative care services.

Sutter Care at Home provides Advanced Illness Management with nursing tele-support. Call (855) 771-4405 or Email aim@sutterhealth.org.  Local Yuba branch:  530-749-3413. Doctor referral is required.

 

6. Explore possible Legacy Projects. What has given meaning to your life?

• Legacy Projects could be written, oral or video interviews.

• Reconnect or reconcile with family and friends.

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During Terminal Illness – Communicate about Hospice

 

We practice Deep Listening - we do not advise but offer information, resources and participate with the care team.

Extensive education on WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE DYING PROCESS

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1. Explain Hospice Services

• Myths about Hospice & Hospice Facts

• Sutter Care at Home Hospice Services at (866) 652-9178.  Physician's referral is required.

      Yuba City branch: 400 Plumas Blvd. Yuba City, CA 95991.  Administrator: Paula Ketchum

 

2. Help create an inner circle of friends that can contribute at this time

• Can use private or semi-public CoF Volunteer site to schedule visits, meals, rides or anything else

• Help find what nourishes: letters, cards, talks, photos, walks, rides, music, poetry, impressions, nature, air, sunlight, touch, etc.

 

3. Customize Care Documents

• Care-Visitor Calendar

• Medicines log, Medicines by Need log, Medicines-simple list

• Friends & Family list

• During the Dying Process short doc

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4. Be open about Last Wishes

• A particular meal/drink, music, videos, a trip, a visitor

• Friends/family to visit

 

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During the Last Days

• Pre-Death Vigil – Loving Care Suggestions from Deanna Cochran 

• Death has occurred 

 

Bereavement

• Help accompany the bereaved and maintain connection and support for 6-12 months

• See 'A Holistic Approach to Grieving Loss', 'Tenets of Companioning the Bereaved' - by Dr Alan Wolfelt,        'Grief - Common Myths and Misconceptions'.

• Refer to bereavement groups in the area or online

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Reading suggestions

• The Caregiver’s Tao Te Ching: Compassionate Caring for Your Loved Ones and Yourself by William Martin

• Grief, Dying, and Death: Clinical Interventions for Caregivers by Therese A. Rando

• Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence by Gail Sheehy  

• Learning to Sit in the Silence: A Journal of Caretaking by Elaine Marcus Starkman

• The Hospice Doctor’s Widow, Jennifer O’Brien

• Accompanying the Dying, Deanna Cochran, RN

• Being Mortal - Illness, Medicine, and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

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