Arkansas Hospice

Today, Aug. 30, is National Grief Awareness Day. While dealing with loss is different for every person, it is never an easy experience. As a community service, Arkansas Hospice offers grief support, free of charge, to the general public, including children, as well as the families of Arkansas Hospice patients. To learn more, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/grief-support.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Need something to help you smile, as we approach a holiday weekend? Check out this fun photo of Arkansas Hospice’s beloved founder, Michael Aureli, pictured at a 2008 fundraiser.

See how a Mississippi hospice helped a patient and his wife celebrate their silver anniversary a little early — and experience the big wedding that they didn't get to have the first time. To see how Arkansas Hospice's Family of Care offers expert care, where you are, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/ or call 877-713-2348 to speak with one of our care experts.

Hospice patient and wife renew marriage vows for 25th anniversary A hospice patient and his wife renewed their marriage vows for their 25th wedding anniversary.

Grief is different for every person, but it is never easy – and never fully over. Here's one perspective from actor Keanu Reeves, whose daughter was stillborn in 1999; the child’s mother, his girlfriend, died in a 2001 car crash. This Friday, August 30, is National Grief Awareness Day. As a community service, Arkansas Hospice offers grief support, free of charge, to the general public, including children, as well as the families of Arkansas Hospice patients. To learn more, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/grief-support.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Remember Henry? It was five years ago this month that these pictures captured his love of the great outdoors – and the hearts of all who saw them. After Henry told his Arkansas Hospice social worker that fishing was the one thing he truly wanted to do again, he spent a morning on Lake Maumelle that ended with a lot of smiles, but no bites. A few days later, this determined Arkansas Hospice patient and members of his care team went back on the water with his wheelchair and oxygen tank, and, as you can see, Henry made a beautiful catch! These August 2019 photos show not only Henry’s joy, but also the beauty and peace of the sport that he loved so dearly.

It has now been a year and a half since the announcement that former President Jimmy Carter is receiving hospice care at his Georgia home, on his terms. When that news broke on Feb. 18, 2023, tributes began to roll in, as many presumed that hospice care is only for the last few days of life. But 18 months later, Carter — who is nearing his 100th birthday in October — has defied expectations. While Carter has lived longer than typical hospice patients, studies show that those who receive hospice care earlier often live longer and report an improved quality of life because their care is focused on comfort. Plus, at Arkansas Hospice, patients and families often say they wish that they had called sooner.

To read an informative article that explains hospice care and clears up some common misconceptions, please visit https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/jimmy-carter-started-hospice-nearly-a-year-and-a-half-ago-his-experience-is-challenging-common-misconceptions-about-end-of-life-care-144843226.html.

To see how Arkansas Hospice offers expert care, where you are, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/ or call 877-713-2348 to speak with a hospice expert.

An important life lesson regardless of whether you just started school or finished decades ago.

We are nearing the milestone of having 11,000 followers for our Arkansas Hospice page. Will you please help us spread the word about our mission, plus the latest Arkansas Hospice Family of Care news, heartwarming stories and more, by inviting your friends to our page?

If you’re not sure how to invite your friends, simply follow these quick and easy instructions.

• Go to the top of our Arkansas Hospice page and click on the button on the right side with three dots.
• Click “invite friends.”
• Choose the friends you’d like to invite to our page. Then, click “send invites.”

Or, if you prefer, you can simply share this post to your personal page.

As always, thank you for your support!

Please join us in congratulating the physicians named by readers of AY Magazine as 2024’s Best Healthcare Professionals! All five doctors listed in the Hospice and Palliative Medicine category provide care for patients served by Arkansas Hospice’s Family of Care.

Thanks to these physicians and everyone in our Arkansas Hospice family who works so hard to care for our patients – and to all the families across the state who trust us to care for their loved ones. It is our privilege and, ultimately, the highest honor that we can possibly receive.

To see how Arkansas Hospice’s Family of Care offers expert care, where you are, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/ or call 877-713-2348.

The Olympics might almost be over, but these words from gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton are timeless.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Last year, the public radio program “Arts & Letters” featured Jennifer O’Brien, an Arkansas Hospice board member and author of “The Hospice Doctor’s Widow,” in an episode titled “Forever Changed, Still Here.” Jennifer spoke about her husband Bob Lehmberg, a hospice physician, and their journey of life, love and loss. When Bob was diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer, Jennifer became his caregiver. After his death, Jennifer found comfort in art journaling – making pictures, writing notes and creating collages. Later, those works became the inspiration for her book. To listen to the program (originally broadcast on KUAR 89.1, which is now part of Little Rock Public Radio) and hear more about Jennifer and Bob’s story, please visit https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/show/arts-letters/2023-03-10/still-here-forever-changed. UPDATE: Arts & Letters Radio has announced that Jennifer's episode will re-air on KUAR 89.1 on Friday, Aug. 16, at 9 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m.

Jennifer, shown in this 2023 photo at an Arkansas Hospice Foundation luncheon, also shared her experiences on our Arkansas Hospice podcast, “Speaking of Grief,” which is available at https://www.arkansashospice.org/speakingofgrief. Earlier this year, Jennifer served as event chair for Party at the Plaza, the Arkansas Hospice Foundation signature event, that was held on April 27 in North Little Rock's Argenta Plaza. To read more about her, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/plazachair. Hospice Doctor's Widow - Jennifer A. O'Brien, MSOD

Join our mission! You can make a difference with a career as part of the Arkansas Hospice Family of Care, which now includes:

• Arkansas Hospice: The state’s largest nonprofit provider of care for patients and families during life’s final months.
• Arkansas Palliative Care: Comfort and support beyond treatment for patients at any age and at any stage of serious illness
• Arkansas Advanced Care: Primary care for seniors, where they live
• First Choice Senior Care: Non-medical home care for seniors in Central Arkansas

To see all current open positions and apply for the one that best fits you, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/careers/. Please share this with any friends or family members who might be interested.

Inspiring words from Wilma Rudolph, who became a world-record-holding Olympic champion after recovering from polio.

Do you want to make a difference? Volunteer with Arkansas Hospice — and join a team that will be recognized this November as the Outstanding Volunteer Organization by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Arkansas Chapter. Volunteer opportunities include making phone calls or personal visits to patients receiving care in homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or the Arkansas Hospice Ottenheimer Inpatient Center in Little Rock; sitting with patients to relieve caregivers; helping with office work; and specialized areas such as sewing and pet therapy.

We currently have these volunteer training sessions scheduled for the weeks ahead:

• Batesville: Friday, Aug. 23, at 9 a.m.
• Searcy: Thursday, Sept. 19 at 9 a.m.

For more details on these training sessions and future sessions across our service area, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/volunteer/training-schedule. Please share this with any friends or family members who might be interested.

Would you live your life differently now if you knew what you might regret in your final days? In this interview, a hospice nurse shares her insights in an effort to help readers appreciate the lives they have now. To read more, visit https://www.upworthy.com/hospice-nurse-shares-regrets-of-the-dying.

To see how Arkansas Hospice’s Family of Care provides expert care where you are, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/.

Hospice nurse who's seen a hundred people die shares the one regret her patients always have Gratitude is everything.

Don’t miss this fun video capturing highlights from Party at the Plaza! Thanks to all who made this Arkansas Hospice Foundation event to support our mission a huge success. Mark your calendars now for the NEXT edition of Party at the Plaza on April 26, 2025!

Party at the Plaza 2024 Wrap Up This is "Party at the Plaza 2024 Wrap Up" by Family of Care on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Inspiring words from Jesse Owens, who set three world records and tied another – all in less than an hour in 1935 – before going on to win four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: It’s often said that hospice is about living life to the fullest – and that was certainly the case for Don, an Arkansas Hospice patient shown in this July 2015 photo. Being wheelchair-bound didn’t stop Don from living a productive life – and that included mowing his yard with his specially customized “Don Dear” mower. What a remarkable man!

Have you ever wanted to send a card to a hospice patient but been unsure about what to say? Perhaps you can’t find an appropriate card – or wonder if it’s even OK to send one. To see thoughts from folks who have experience in both the greeting card industry and hospice care, please click below or visit https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/sympathy-ideas/hospice-messages-what-to-write-to-someone-who-is-dying/.

As a community service, Arkansas Hospice offers grief support, free of charge, to the general public, including children, as well as the families of Arkansas Hospice patients. To learn more, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/grief-support.

Hospice Messages: What to Write to Someone Who is Dying | Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration Message ideas for what to write and say to someone who is dying or terminally-ill. Includes examples for caregivers and what NOT to say from pro writers.

Wise words on how humor and laughter can help us deal with life’s troubling times, courtesy of legendary comedian Bob Newhart, who died this past week at the age of 94.

Thank you to the readers of the Arkansas Times and the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record for naming Arkansas Hospice as the best provider of hospice care. We are Arkansans serving Arkansans – your neighbors, friends and family members – and it’s our privilege to care for your loved ones.

Thanks to your trust and support, Arkansas Hospice has expanded its services and now provides a continuum of care:

• Arkansas Hospice: The state’s largest nonprofit provider of care for patients and families during life’s final months.
• Arkansas Palliative Care: Comfort and support beyond treatment for patients at any age and at any stage of serious illness
• Arkansas Advanced Care: Primary care for seniors, where they live
• First Choice Senior Care: Non-medical care for seniors in Central Arkansas

To see how Arkansas Hospice’s Family of Care provides expert care where you are, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: A few weeks ago, we shared this delightful story about some fine-feathered residents at Southridge Village Nursing And Rehab in Heber Springs having a new place to roost, thanks to help from Arkansas Hospice and the Arkansas Hospice Foundation. This video is sure to make you smile. Please take a few moments to watch at https://www.arkansashospice.org/care-coming-home-to-roost.

A special thanks to the Conway Area Office team for making this special project possible.

A powerful reminder to always find a way to make a difference, courtesy of the legendary Julie Andrews who has found a new generation of fans thanks to the popular television series .

THROWBACK THURSDAY: The Towbin Heritage Society was introduced in 2002 to honor those who make special provisions in their wills or estate plans to support the mission of Arkansas Hospice. The society was named for Dr. Eugene J. Towbin, the Chief of Staff for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, who was instrumental in helping Arkansas Hospice open the state’s first hospice inpatient center in February 2000 at Fort Roots in North Little Rock. Thanks to all the donors who have supported our mission over the years in such a meaningful way!

To learn more about planned giving and the Arkansas Hospice Foundation's Towbin Heritage Society, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/foundation/ways-to-give.

Did you know that the Arkansas Hospice Family of Care includes First Choice Senior Care, which provides non-medical care for seniors in Central Arkansas? Part of our growing continuum of care, First Choice Senior Care serves clients in homes, assisted living communities, senior facilities, and retirement homes, as well as hospitals, where our experienced caregivers can stay overnight or through the day during your loved one’s hospital stay. In addition to providing vital companionship, available services include meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, personal care, basic errands such as grocery shopping or accompanying clients to appointments, and more. To learn more or ask for a free in-home assessment, please contact Angela Hansard, First Choice Senior Care’s new Director of Marketing, by calling 501-916-9307 or by emailing through our website at https://qrco.de/bfAbOS.

July is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Here's how Lisa Marie Presley, who died last year at the age of 54, described her experience after the 2020 death of her son, Benjamin. As a community service, Arkansas Hospice offers grief support, free of charge, to the general public, including children, as well as the families of Arkansas Hospice patients. To learn more, please visit https://www.arkansashospice.org/patients-families-caregivers/grief-support.

Happy Independence Day! Here’s hoping we all have a chance to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy – and to show our gratitude to the veterans and current members of our armed forces who've made them possible.

The summer heat often means staying indoors, so it's an excellent opportunity to talk with loved ones about their healthcare decisions – and yours – before a crisis occurs because of a serious illness or an accident. Please click below to see some suggestions and to learn about advance care plan forms that you can download and complete.

Healthcare Decisions - Arkansas Hospice Make your healthcare decisions known in the event you were seriously ill or involved in an accident. Advanced care plans are available for download.