Serenity House Hospice Corporation

Another Milestone. Woot woot!

With a heavy heart💔 and tears 😢 in my eyes, nothing is more painful than trying to smile and remain positive, but after many tests, being poked and prodded, chemo and radiation, the person physically changes and they can suffer with sadness. I know many of you do not give a crap about this message because, the cancer has not affected you. You do not know what it's like to have fought the fight, or have a loved one who leads or has lead a battle against cancer. 💛💗
I ask you a small favor- I know only some of you will do it. If you know someone who has led a battle against cancer, still struggling, or who passed, please make this your status to support, respect, and remember. 💛💗💜💚💛🧡❤️🤎🖤🤍 💙
** I have faith that many of my friends and family will copy and paste to their newsfeed!

It is called white mourning
Someone once said when you love someone with dementia, you lose them more and more everyday. When they are diagnosed, when they go through different phases, when they need care, and when they die. 😢
This is what you call an ambiguous loss. "I wouldn't wish dementia on anyone." As the brain slowly dies, they physically change and end up forgetting who their loved ones are. They may end up being in bed, not moving and not eating or drinking.
To bring awareness to this cruel disease I would appreciate my friends putting this on their page today for Alzheimer and Dementia week. We are getting better understanding the different types and slowing down the journey for some but we still have a long way to go.
😘😘😘⚘⚘💓
Special hug to those going through this with their loved one.

Hospice of Elgin is soon to break ground. Woot woot!👏👏

It's a beautiful day to be on the site. Summer construction is on the horizon!

I visited the Ian Anderson home many years ago and we, Linda C and I spoke with Margaret. It was a very good visit as we saw what we wanted and what we didn’t in our hospice. She was a trailblazer for sure. May her legacy continue for many more years to come.

Put­ting the ill at ease | Toronto Star MARGARET ANDERSON MAY 16 , 19 2 9 — AUG. 7, 2 022 Caring for her ter­min­ally ill hus­band at home inspired Mar­garet Ander­son to found and lead Ian Ander­son House, an Oak­vil­le­based hos­pice that cel­eb­rates its 25th anniversary this Novem­ber.

Smile for today. A close up of a dragonfly! ☺️
Lea

So very true.

At Hospice, we acknowledge that holidays can be difficult for many people coping with the illness or loss of a loved one. We wish you peace, love, and compassion this Thanksgiving.

When my mom was cleaning out her house over 23 years ago to sell it, I wasn't very sympathetic over her attachments to things. I would go over on weekends to help her and we would go through things, things for a yard sale, things to donate, things to throw away. I would usually get upset over how long it was taking her to decide. For instance, we were going through kitchen cabinets and she spent 20 minutes looking at an iron kettle with a lid. Finally I said,

“Mom, at this rate it is going to take us another 2 years.”

She told me that her mother used to make meals in that kettle and leave them at doorsteps of neighbors during the depression, mom would deliver them, and then they would reappear back to her with an apron, or a wood carving, something in return for the meal. I realized that everything that my mom was going through was really a reliving of her life.

If you are reading this and are under the age of 60, you wont get it. You haven't lived long enough. Most of you have not had to move your parents into a nursing home, or emptied their home. You haven't lived long enough to realize that the hours you spend picking out the right cabinets, or the perfect tile will not be what matters in the later years. It will be the handmade toothbrush holder, or a picture that you got on vacation.

So, if your parents are downsizing, and moving to smaller places, or selling a home, give your mom and even your dad a break. Those things that you don't understand why they can’t just pitch, and why you think you know what needs to be tossed or saved, give them a little time to make their decisions. They are saying goodbye to their past, and realizing that they are getting ready for their end of life, while you are beginning your life.

As I have been going through things, its amazing just how hard it is to get rid of objects. But, life goes on, and you realize they are just things, but sometimes things comfort us. So give your parents or grandmparents a break. Listen to their stories, because in 40 years, when you are going through those boxes and the memories come back, it will be hard to get rid of those plastic champagne flutes that you and your late husband used at a New Years party 40 years ago. You will think nothing of the tile or the light fixtures that were so important then.

As happy as they are for you, and as much as they love you, you just don't have a clue until it happens to you and then you will remember how you rushed them, and it will make you sad, especially if they are already gone and you cant say I’m sorry, I didn’t get it.

~ Original Post Melissa Vaughan

https://www.facebook.com/377700549450190/photos/a.377728092780769/1040642336489338/?type=3

— You Don’t Just Lose Someone Once —

You lose them over and over,
sometimes many times a day.
When the loss, momentarily forgotten,
creeps up,
and attacks you from behind.
Fresh waves of grief as the realization hits home,
they are gone.
Again.

You don’t just lose someone once,
you lose them every time you open your eyes to a new dawn,
and as you awaken,
so does your memory,
so does the jolting bolt of lightning that rips into your heart,
they are gone.
Again.

Losing someone is a journey,
not a one-off.
There is no end to the loss,
there is only a learned skill on how to stay afloat,
when it washes over.

Be kind to those who are sailing this stormy sea,
they have a journey ahead of them,
and a daily shock to the system each time they realize, they are gone,
Again.

You don’t just lose someone once,
you lose them every day,
for a lifetime.

Donna Ashworth Words

The Train of Life
At birth, we board the train and meet our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side.

As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life.

However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum.

Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don’t realize they vacated their seats.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.

Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down.

So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.

It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you all a joyful journey. -Unknown

What an awesome neighbour.

Neighbour Helping Neighbour, West Elgin Mutual Insurance Helps Strengthen the Future of Healthcare Through a Gift
Today, representatives from Hospice of Elgin and West Elgin Mutual Insurance, gathered in Dutton at the West Elgin Mutual’s head office of to celebrate a wonderful gift of $100,000 to Hospice of Elgin.

“To see this business leadership from West Elgin Mutual, signals the importance they place on caring for our community by helping to invest in projects that will have far reaching support and impact across Elgin County.” explains Dan Reith, Hospice of Elgin Campaign Cabinet Member. “Hospice is the next big project for our community and will have that lasting impact as it will support many individuals and families.”
This gift represents an incredible commitment to realize a Hospice for Elgin County.

We usually don’t advertise but this is such a worthy cause. They have partnered many times in the past with us to complement our services and have taken on popular programs to lessen the gaps in health care. Good luck to all who participate 🎄🎅🤶🇨🇽

Rafflebox - VON Middlesex-Elgin Holly Jolly 50/50 Raffle Join thousands of community organizations - big and small - who are raising more funds for their worthy causes with Rafflebox online and in-person 50/50s and prize raffles.

Everyone faces grief at some point in their lives. For National Grief and Bereavement Day (coming up on November 16, 2021), CHPCA and Hospice of Elgin are encouraging every Canadian to engage in a dialogue on how we can ensure every person that is coping with grief has access to the resources they need.
This year, we are asking you to share how you feel when you are grieving. The "When I grieve, I feel..." campaign is an opportunity to destigmatize the various ways that people cope with grief because there is no right or wrong way to grieve. When we share our journeys together, we no longer need to walk through them alone.
If you are experiencing grief, we are here for you…
call 519-631-7495 to access free, confidential support.

A day to reflect and honour …

You’re invited …
Over the coming weeks, the process of designing your Hospice will begin!
Hospice of Elgin will be designed to reflect the hearts, minds, and voices of our community. While we won’t get specific with questions of paint colours or table linens, we will be listening for key ideas about what matters most at end of life.
We would love to hear from you. If you are interested in participating in a virtual meeting, comment below and email Kimberley Howcroft at [email protected]
Sign up today as spots are limited!
Follow us closely & be part of the conversation in designing Elgin County’s first Hospice.

Our Hearts have Landed

On July 14, Mayor Preston announced that the City of St. Thomas has found an incredible location at 2 South Edgeware Road (overlooking Waterworks Park) as the future home of Hospice. The location will allow Hospice to be anchored in a beautiful, serene, wooded area, wrapped in the Carolinian forest that is graced with butterflies, birds, and a collection of native species. A special thank you to the City of St. Thomas for their leadership and commitment to building a compassionate community. The City of St. Thomas cares deeply for the people in our community as evident by this very special gift. To learn more about the land announcement visit the Hospice of Elgin page.

Let the Design of Hospice Begin

Over the coming months, Hospice of Elgin will be speaking with stakeholders from across our community to ensure what matters most is reflected in the Hospice design. We’re looking to capture the hearts, minds, and voices of our community to build a space (and outreach of programs) for helping families live life to the fullest until the very end. Hospice will be built by the community and for the community, creating a space that is uniquely Elgin.

At the Heart of Hospice

Thank you to the following volunteers who are part of our Hospice family for dedicating your time, talent, and leadership to help us realize the Hospice vision.



Lindsay Barber, John Bod, Paul Bode, John Callaghan, Linda Corriveau, Paul Corriveau, Kate Dymock, Bill Graham, Mike Hanki, Jim Harris, Dr. John Hofhuis, Pat Keenan, Dr. Bob Jones, Dan Kelly, Paul Kiteley, Ellen Luft, Ken Monteith, David Nash, Peggy Rattray, Dan Reith, Dan Ross, Dr. Duncan Sinclair, Melanie Smith, Carolyne Tarry

“No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another.” – Author Unknown

You are laying on a bed, about to take your last breath , what is your greatest bucket list check and what is your proudest moment on this earth?

Good Morning! We have an exciting challenge for you! Where do you think the home of Hospice of Elgin should be located? We cant wait to see your comments below, with a photo of your favourite places and spaces in Elgin County!

Our Hospice heart is bursting with excitement as we look forward to A BIG announcement!! Mark your calendar for July 14th

With the social isolation caused by Covid-19 finding ways to grieve and deal with grief can be challenging.

Ottawa Morning with Robyn Bresnahan | Live Radio | CBC Listen Smart, engaging, straight up. Ottawa Morning connects you to the city inside the capital.

Father's Day is tomorrow...

Choir of Women Physicians sings RISE AGAIN (virtually) Thank you to the incredible healthcare community! Voices Rock Medicine, our very own choir of women physicians has put together this heartfelt tribute, dedic...

OCSA COVID-19 Community Support Finder OCSA is working with Meals on Wheels organizations and other partners across the province to deliver services to vulnerable seniors without family or community support, who need help getting meals, groceries, medicine and other essentials to safely isolate at home during COVID-19.