Medi Home Health & Hospice in Petersburg, Richmond, and Charlottesville seeks to ensure all our patients in Virginia find relief from pain due to life-limiting illnesses. You can help another find comfort and solace by volunteering your time for a patient of hospice. We want you to feel appreciated, educated, energized, and informed!
Medi Home Health & Hospice Offers Donations in Support of Community
This July Santa Clause delivered in the form of Medi staff members! In the spirit of generosity and giving, Medi Home Health & Hospice in Petersburg, Charlottesville, and Richmond, VA collected and donated everyday items to help families going through difficult times. Canned goods and personal care items of all sorts were brought in by Medi staff to create special gift baskets. Health care workers and physicians in the community who Medi partners with were then asked to submit stories of families who would benefit from receiving a gift basket. Hopefully this act served as a welcome relief to a family in a time of need. Pay compassion forward and help make the world a bit easier for someone else.
We wish blessings to all and all a good night!
Donations offered by Medi Home Health & Hospice to help a family in need.
The Medi Richmond office's donations from staff.
Gift baskets created for Charlottesville families in need.
Medi Home Health & Hospice of Charlottesville was featured on CvilleSeniors.org.
Have ideas on how to give back to the community? Looking for a volunteer opportunity? Please call Medi Home Health & Hospice at 804-282-4301 and ask to speak to the Volunteer Coordinator today!
Medi Home Health & Hospice is proud to announce we have become a Level 3 partner of the We Honor Veterans program. Our staff has worked tirelessly over the last several years to recognize and honor veterans in our community with ongoing outreach and programming. Throughout this journey we have met and honored many veterans from all walks of life.
It is with a great deal of gratitude we thank those who helped make this happen, especially the veterans in the community who allowed us to recognize them. In some cases you allowed us into your homes or your place of residence to share your stories and struggles with us. These are the kinds of moments we will never forget as hospice workers, so thank you. We would also like to thank the healthcare organizations in the community who worked with us and made this achievement possible.
We Honor Veterans is a program that seeks to honor those who previously served in the military. The program's mission is to recognize veterans for their service, promote a compassionate message of understanding towards the veteran community, and educate others on specific issues veterans may face at the end of life.
The program is a partnership between the Department of Veteran Affairs, the NHPCO, hospices, healthcare providers in the community, and various veteran-centric organizations. The program requires that ongoing recognition and educational activities be completed in order to be a partner and progress through the 4 Levels of We Honor Veterans. The staff at Medi Home Health & Hospice eagerly continues the work for promoting this cause. Educating our community and caring for veterans is responsibility we take seriously. It is the kind of work that does not end with an achievement or recognition. It is our goal going forward that we continue to promote a message of positivity and provide the quality care that our veterans deserve.
For more information on the We Honor Veterans program, please visit WeHonorVeterans.org. If you are a current military service member or a veteran who would like to help this cause, please contact the Medi Hospice Volunteer Coordinator at (804) 201-7335 to find out how you can volunteer to visit with veterans at the end of their life, providing support to them and their families.
The week of June 12th through 19th marks the yearly celebration of National Nursing Assistant week. Each year millions of certified Nursing Aides work hard to provide hands-on care for those who are not able to provide care for themselves. This can be a difficult job which requires much patience and compassion.
Medi Hospice serving the Petersburg, Richmond, and Charlottesville areas provides CNA care to patients and families who are receptive to it. When an individual is admitted to hospice services, they have a choice to receive visits from a CNA up to three times per week. Medi CNA's display the most caring, compassionate care that south and central Virginia has to offer.
Tasks that CNAs might perform for patients include bathing, changing clothes and sheets, shaving, brushing teeth, and various hygiene related routines. Hospice CNA's may offer education to family or caregivers to the patients we treat. This offered guidance provides families the knowledge they need to safely care for their ill loved ones. As a general overview of what CNA's might do on a daily basis when caring for patients, take a look at the video below created by the "CNA Practice Tests" YouTube channel.
CNA's carry out this back breaking work with a caring, compassionate attitude which embodies the hospice philosophy by promoting comfort and quality of life in all they do. Medi Hospice would like to take this time to thank all of our CNA's and aides across the country for their generous and kind hearted work. Without the dedication of CNA's the healthcare world would be severely lacking in many areas. Thanks to your sacrifices we are able to maintain the proper dignity and respect for our patients up until they pass away.
A winter storm has hit Virginia, marking the first major snow event Virginia has experienced this year. Because storms like this are so few and far between, Virginians are not always prepared for snow and ice covering our roadways and walkways. This type of storm can shut down schools and businesses for days.
Of course, people are still sick and need to be cared for during this time. Medi Hospice does the best it can to continue to care for the terminally ill receiving hospice our services. Though our offices might be closed because of winter weather, staff remain on call around the clock to provide top-notch care.
Nurses and social workers on call during these hours might educate a patient or family member on how to deal with a medical situation over the phone if a nurse can not get there or until a nurse can get there. A nurse's soothing, knowledgeable voice over the phone can alleviate stress and help a caregiver or patient get through a particularly tough situation. If an emergency arises, nurses might make an on call visit to patients, even during a snow storm. It is always Medi's goal to provide the best care so that our patients and families can be comfortable confronting the difficult end of life process.
Safety is always important to our employees, especially during threatening weather conditions. As this recent string of winter weather passes through, please be prepared to deal with the challenges this weather brings. Stay off the roads while they are covered in ice and snow, unless there is an emergency or you must go to work or school. You can find more information on how to cope with winter weather at the website of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
Hospice in the United States is strictly regulated by the Joint Commission on Health Care.
Take a look at the 2014 Home Care National Patient Safety Goals as developed by the JCHC.
- Identify patients correctly
Use at least two ways to identify patients. For example, us the patient's name and date of birth. This is done to make sure that each patient gets the correct medicine and treatment
- Use medicines safely
Record and pass along correct information about a patient's medicines. Find out what medicines the patient is taking. Compare those medicines to new medicines givne to the patient. Make sure the patient know which medicines to take when they are at home. Tell the patient it is important to have their up-to-date list of medicines every time they see a doctor.
- Prevent infection
Use the hand cleaning guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization. Set goals for improving hand cleaning. Use goals to improve hand cleaning.
- Prevent patients from falling
Find out which patients are most likely to fall. For example, is the patient taking medications that might make them weak, dizzy, or sleepy? Take action to prevent falls for these patients.
- Identify patient safety risks
Find out if there are any risks for patients who are getting oxygen. For example, fires in the patient's home.
These are some of the basic standards which home health care organization must meet to qualify as an accredited institution caring for patients as designated by the JCHC. More information can be found on their website.
Medi Home Health & Hospice seeks to meet and exceed these standards in our care for patients and their families. Every Medi staff member, including hospice volunteers, are educated on the basics of hospice. We strive for excellence and personal attention in our care, to create a safe, comfortable environment for all.
Each volunteer completes a comprehensive hospice training to become prepared to support and visit terminally ill patients. Volunteers must be comfortable with the special task of caring for others who are at the end of their life. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering for hospice, please contact our office at (804) 282 - 4301.
Saturday December 21, 2013 at Dinwiddie Health and Rehab located in Petersburg, VA, United States Army Lieutenants training at Fort Lee came to visit and honor residents at the facility who were military veterans themselves. As a We Honor Veteran partner, Medi Home Health & Hospice seeks to recognize and honor veterans in our community. This turned out to be wonderful event where current soldiers and past military service men had a chance to connect, reflect, and enjoy quality bonding time. Here is a look at some of the moments that afternoon.
Terminally ill patients in our communities of Richmond and Petersburg, VA deserve the best, most compassionate care in their final days. Patient families also deserve attention and care when going through the the lose of a loved one. Medi Home Health & Hospice continues that attention and care for the family after their loved one has passed away. Our volunteer led memory bear program provides a special way for families to process their loss and reflect on more positive times experienced with someone they loved. Sewers take clothing of patients provided by family members and create unique stuffed bears. These memory bears can be positive, lasting mementos in the lives of surviving friends and family. Take a look below at some of the delightful craft work by one of Medi's talented volunteers.
Two bears for two sisters made from their mother's green and pink robes.
Nine little bears for nine grandchildren to remember their grandmother.
One paisley printed bear with nine little bears.
If you enjoy sewing or begin visiting patients as a volunteer for Medi Hospice, please contact our office for more information as to how you can get started making a special difference in others' lives today!
To publicly
acknowledge the military service and sacrifices made by the Veterans of
Golden Living – Battlefield Park, Medi Home Health & Hospice in Petersburg, VA along with Active Duty members of Fort Lee
held a pinning ceremony at the skilled nursing facility. Medi
Home Health and Hospice is a Level II partner of the We Honor Veterans
program and these pinning ceremonies are a small portion of what is
being done to give back to the Veteran community.
SSgt Sam Gibbs, SSG Keith Fay, and SSgt Mark Wilson
presented the Veterans with certificates and American flag lapel pins as
a small token of appreciation for what these Veterans have done for our
country.
Take a look at some more pictures from the ceremony below. The staff of Medi Home Health & Hospice hopes this is the first of many opportunities to recognize and honor Veterans in our community through pinning ceremonies and other events.
If you are interested in getting involved with honoring military veterans in central and southern Virginia, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Travis Kennedy via e-mail at tkennedy@msa-corp.com or call the office at 804-732-0108. We are always looking for volunteers to join our team. Whether you are a veteran, you come from a military family, or are interested in simply visiting our hospice patients, but have no military background, we have place for you to make a difference in the lives of those with terminal illness. We hope to hear from you soon!
In hospice every other week we hold meetings where the entire team comes together to discuss all patient care plans. These are called IDG, or Interdisciplinary Group, meetings. During this time the nurses, aides, chaplains, clinical manager, medical director, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers are provided the opportunity to discuss any developments of patients physical, spiritual, psychological, or emotional needs over the previous two weeks.
Before we begin our IDGs at Medi, one of our chaplains usually takes time to reflect on a local or national event which may have impacted us and offer a prayer, song, or reading. These spiritual moments can help center the team and can give everyone a renewed or unique perspective to take with them through the coming days.
Last week Chaplain Erin was kind enough to share some thoughts about "breaking down" which I would like to share with all of you. Often times in life we feel special moments passing us by. There are sights, sounds, smells, conversations, and much more we experience on a daily basis. We may wish that we could stop time, break down, and hold on to these experiences longer.
It could be a gold, summer sunset.
A long talk with your parent.
The homemade taste of a dinner freshly cooked.
A hug from someone you love.
I was reminded of a scene from one of my favorite shows "Mad Men". In this scene ad man Donald Draper is pitching his idea for advertising a new product Kodak developed to some of the execs of Kodak. Draper wants these execs to buy into his advertising approach. The background information on this scene is less important than the feelings it evokes. Don's words as he flips through pictures of his family can be both haunting and touching, regardless if we know his story or not, because we can relate to his ideas. Captured in the soft music, smokey room, and Don's voice is a yearning for the past. The wish to stop time. To go back and experience things we once had.
Nostalgia.
These moments can be beautiful, meaningful, and insightful. And we may wish to hang on to them a little longer than time allows us. On the other side of these moments is a pain in knowing that they do not last forever. As if we are passengers on a train chugging down a track, our lives keep moving forward despite the passing of these experiences into memory. All we are able to do is lock away those memories in our minds and reflect while making the best of the present. Pictures, songs, thoughts and other things serve as nostalgic tools to bring us back to days gone by.
At the end of her spiritual reflection, Erin shared with us a song. I share the same song with you here... And if you are in need of a "breakdown", a little time to stop and take in the moment around you, I hope it comes your way soon.
Medi Hospice in Petersburg Reaches Level One Recognition
As a proud partner of the national We Honor Veterans program, we continue our efforts to promote awareness of veteran end of life issues in our south side Virginia community. For those of you in our faithful readership who missed the big announcement, here is the link to the post back in January.
This program looks to create a health care system ready and able to accommodate the unique needs military vets and their families may have at the end of life. Hospices across the country strive to accomplish these goals of accommodating and appropriately respecting our veterans with this special campaign. Through continued staff education on topics such as post traumatic stress disorder , community partnerships between organizations providing care to veterans, and events recognizing the sacrifice made by our military personnel, we hope to ensure that veterans are able to enjoy the highest quality of care and life possible while dealing with terminal illness.
The program consists of four achievement levels required of hospices to gain recognition and continue to increase the reach of the We Honor Veterans message, all the while providing practical, useful information to health care providers regarding veterans and recognizing veterans for their sacrifices. Each level asks hospices to complete specific tasks as a systematic, grassroots way of spreading the We Honor Veterans campaign. Progress through the four levels is tracked and approved by We Honor Veterans, with level four being the highest, most difficult achievement.
To reach Level One, for instance, a hospice must provide 3 educational in-services on the We Honor Veterans program to its own staff. The hospice must also reach out to community partners to advertise the program and establish a contact person at a nearby Veteran Affairs office. In addition to those requirements, a hospice must create and implement a Military History Checklist into the admission process for patients. The checklist provides the hospice an opportunity to gather details of the patient's military service, such as the branch, time period, and locations they may have served. Implementing this individualized information into the plan of care allows hospices to understand the patient's military past and see that they are receiving the benefits available to them in their time of need.
Medi's Partner Level 1 certificate
Medi Home Health & Hospice of Petersburg, VA is proud to announce that we have achieved the Level One milestone as set forth by the We Honor Veterans program! We are already working hard towards Level Two and would love your help along the way! If you or someone you know would like to get involved as a volunteer of our hospice, please contact Travis Kennedy, the Volunteer Coordinator at 804-732-0108 or via e-mail at tkennedy@msa-corp.com. We would be especially grateful for any military veterans who are willing to take the time to visit veteran patients for at least one hour per week, serving as a friend and companion. A volunteer may be one of the last good things to happen in a patient's life, so please consider donating a little of your time to others.
A new and ground breaking study conducted by the Corporation for National & Community Service shows that volunteering can increase an individuals chances of finding a job by as much as 27% more than those who do not volunteer. Check on the video below along with the link here to the article, "Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment".
The benefits of volunteering have long been trumpeted as a way to entice the populace to sacrifice their time for a person or cause. Having a positive impact on your community and building your experience through volunteering to increase your chances of landing that dream job are two great reasons to volunteer. However, until now there has not been significant measurable data to back up the idea that volunteering can be a pathway to a paid position in the working world.
Volunteering for hospice helps prepare those who want to work in the medical field become more equipped and knowledgeable in their desired area of work. Unquestionably, the compassionate and sometimes difficult work of a hospice volunteer helps individuals prepare for all kinds of workplace obstacles. Aspiring medical social workers can help learn to navigate fragile family situations and relationships, perhaps even improving the way families get along in certain fortunate circumstances. Those who wish to become nurses or case managers will interact with medical staff during their volunteer experience, seeing the ins and outs of what a day on the job for a traveling hospice nurse might be like. Individuals who wish to work in an office or familiarize themselves with medical records can gain valuable experience as an office hospice volunteer.
One of the beautiful things about hospice is that the volunteer is not restricted to any particular type of service area. There are volunteer positions for musicians, landscapers, gardeners, beauticians, cosmetologists, singers, clergy, seamstresses, pet therapists, military veterans and more. You could use your talents to benefit others in need of a helping hand all the while learning new and challenging ideas about life and death. You could take care of a terminally ill patients lawn or help them paint their nails while watching Oprah or enjoy the big game on TV on Sunday.
The possibilities are many and varied when volunteering with hospice. And do not forget you would be boosting your chances at landing a job! All the more reason to begin today in the compassionate work as a hospice volunteer!
If you are interested in volunteering for Medi Hospice to help our patients at the end of their lives, please contact me via e-mail at tkennedy@msa-corp.com.
Medi Home Health and Hospice Recognized as a We Honor Veterans Partner
By Kristy Ball, RN, BSN - Hospice Clinical Manager
"May each of us here have the grit, the grace, the humility, the love
to heal our war-ravaged soldiers
and our broken nation.
May we be the link that connects the circle so they
feel connected to humanity once again.
May we not miss the opportunity to help those veterans' souls
from Iraq, Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea, Nazi, Germany
and various other parts of the world where they served
so they can have peace
at last.
May we help them know
that the circle goes on,
joining them to you and me.
Our people, our nation, our God
would be ever so grateful."
-Deborah Grassman
Petersburg, VA — It may surprise many
people to learn that 25 percent of those who die every year in the U.S.
are Veterans. To help provide care and support that reflect the important
contributions made by these men and women, Medi Home Health and Hospice, Petersburg, VA,
has become a national partner of We
Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by National
Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
As a We Honor VeteransPartner, Medi Home Health
and Hospice will implement ongoing Veteran-centered education for their staff
and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to the Veterans they
proudly serve.The nation is seeing many
of the Veterans who served in World War II and Korean pass away—and the number
of deaths of Vietnam Veterans is beginning to rise.
The We Honor Veterans
campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a
systematic commitment to improving care for Veterans. “Partners” can assess
their ability to serve Veterans and, using resources provided as part of the
campaign, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to Veterans
into their organization. By recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s
Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, Medi Home Health and Hospice
is better able to accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more
peaceful ending. And in cases where there might be some specific needs related
to the Veteran’s military service, combat experience or other traumatic
events, Medi Home Health and Hospice will find tools to help support those they
are caring for.
“All hospices are serving Veterans
but often aren’t aware of that person’s service in the armed forces,” said J.
Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. “Through We Honor Veteranswe are
taking a giant step forward in helping hospice and palliative care providers
understand and serve Veterans at the end of life and work more effectively with
VA medical facilities in their communities.”
“VA shares a common goal with our
nation’s hospices, and that is to provide the best possible care specifically
tailored for Veterans, meeting their goals of care in their preferred
setting. As we focus on working together and unite our services and
skills, We Honor Veterans will channel our combined strengths directly
to Veterans - wherever they are receiving care.”
The resources of We
Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening,
and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health
care staff caring for Veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans or to
support this important work via a secure, online donation, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.
“America’s Veterans have done
everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and we believe
it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home. Now it is time that we
step up, acquire the necessary skills and fulfill our mission to serve these
men and women with the dignity they deserve,” added Schumacher.
The philosophy of hospice is a simple one based upon comfort and care. Rather than curing a disease at all costs, the hospice team seeks to make a patient as comfortable as possible by relieving the pain associated with life-limiting illness. The hospice team typically consists of personal care physicians, registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, speech and physical therapists, and trained volunteers, all of whom play integral roles in helping make the patient's life more enjoyable. Treating the patient in the comfort of their residence is also a defining characteristic of hospice treatment.
A trained volunteer pays visit to their patient on a regular basis. These visits can include simple activities such as reading, walking, and talking. Often times, a patient experiencing an end of life illness only needs someone to sit with them perhaps even in silence. At times just the warm feeling of someone's presence, of someone who cares, can make all the difference in a patient's life.
Volunteers often describe their experience visiting Hospice patient's as life altering. Serving as a companion to someone who suffers from terminal illness can not only help the patient's comfort, but it can also frame a volunteer's life in a new, more humbling perspective. Do not simply take my word for it. Check out a first hand testimonial from Johanna, one our long time volunteers:
Johanna visiting a patient.
"Sometimes
people (including my husband) have asked me if being a hospice
volunteer isn’t a little too depressing. I must say it is truly a
blessing to have the opportunity to serve
families and patients during hard times. Being a hospice volunteer is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. As a hospice
volunteer, I not only help patients and families by making their lives a
little easier a few of times a month, but
I also feel I’m making a difference in people’s lives by giving back to
a community that has offered me so much."
- Johanna, Hospice Volunteer
“No joy can equal the joy of serving others.”
-Sai Baba
Medi Home Hospice welcomes all compassionate, caring individuals to become volunteers!
If you would like to find out more about becoming a hospice volunteer please contact the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Travis Kennedy at 804-732-0108 or via e-mail at tkennedy@msa-corp.com.
