Feb 2023 Newsletter | Home Hospice Association

You are not a drop in the ocean - You are the ocean

Love- Do Kind Things

February 2023

The value of raising awareness- Psychology Month

It is celebrated every February to highlight the contributions of Canadian psychologists and to show Canadians how psychology works to help people live healthy and happy lives, their communities flourish, their employers create better workplaces, and their governments develop effective policies.

Psychology month is an opportunity to recognize the importance of mental health and well-being. Psychology Month gives an opportunity for people to explore the psychological aspects of their relationships, such as communication, trust, and respect. It is also a time to reflect on personal mental health and to recognize the importance of self-care and self-love.

FROM THE DESK OF

TRACEY ROBERTSON
CEO - HOME HOSPICE ASSOCIATION

And here we are in 2023 and our second month already. It is hard to imagine that time continues to fly as it does. A keen reminder of the important work we do. Life can change in an instant, we need to have heartfelt gratitude for every day and every opportunity that comes our way.

I am excited and grateful to two of our HHA team members; Pam Keetch and Manpreet Kaur for taking the lead on getting our first HHAppenings off the ground for 2023. I look forward to seeing this important communication piece grow and evolve as a primary way in which we may share what we are working on as well as some of our proudest moments.

February 2017 we started to work on our Death Doula Training and Certification Program; the first 100% Canadian Content program. Our first event took place in November of 2017 and we have 3 people registered. Today we will see on average 30 people joining the HHA Death Doula movement with every weekend session.

This movement has resulted in a very exciting new project that will take place at the end of March of this year. We will be working with Metis Ontario to deliver a three day conference about Compassionate Caregiving at the End of Life to their staff. We are so proud to be drawing the circle of care wider in this way.

As you read our newsletter please take a moment to consider all those for whom their will be no cure and how together we are easing their suffering, as well as the suffering of those who love them. This month we are reminded that each minute of contribution we offer to HHA is so much more than a minute. It builds into hours and day and then months and years. The work we do today would not be possible without you! We are also reminded about how important it is to care for our own hearts.

Have you heard of the oxygen mask theory? For many of us it has been a while since we traveled on an airplane so as a gentle reminder… in case of an emergency on the airplane, you must put your mask on first and then assist those around you. Care of others truly begins with care of self.

1. Practice self-love.

Practicing self love is the act of taking time to focus on your own well-being and happiness. It is an intentional effort to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical needs.

2. Take time to recognize your unique qualities and strengths. 1. Make a list of your skills and interests. Take some time to reflect on the things you enjoy doing and the things you’re good at. Think about the activities that make you feel most energized and motivated. This could be anything from cooking, DIY projects, playing an instrument, or helping others. 2. Ask those closest to you. Reach out to your family and friends and ask them what they think your unique qualities are. It can be difficult to recognize your own strengths, so it’s helpful to get an outside perspective. 3. Make a list of your accomplishments. Write down all of your achievements, whether they’re big or small. Think about awards you’ve won, certifications you’ve earned, or goals you’ve accomplished. This will help you recognize your strengths and the progress you’ve made. 4. Take an online assessment. There are various online assessments that can help you identify your unique skills and qualities. These tests typically focus on your interests, values, and personality type. 5. Do some self-reflection. Spend some time alone and reflect on what makes you unique. Ask yourself questions like, “What do I bring to the table?”, “What makes me stand out?” and “What do I excel at?”.

3. Spend time each day to practice self-care activities such as journaling, yoga, or going for a walk.

4. Celebrate yourself and the wonderful things you have to offer.

Self-Care Tip

Project Review:
Improving End of Life Care in Long Term Care

Since 2017 Home Hospice Association (HHA) has been pioneering the Death Doula Movement. What is a Death Doula (End of Life Doula)? They are professionally trained practitioners providing non-physical care (emotional, spiritual, psych-social), and working towards empowering clients to make informed decisions regarding their end of life care. Our work has included developing ways to help residents (and by extension their family and LTC staff) who are in the last days or weeks of life.

Utilizing the results of a survey conducted in May of 2022, we have developed on a four point plan to offer this support. The goal of the plan is to prove how the pivotal role of an HHA End of Life Doula, can improve end of life care in a Long Term Care setting.

Home Hospice Association believes it is possible to make a hospice bed, wherever someone calls home. Making this a reality for every person living in Canada means not having to build more and more facilities. As a matter of fact, did you know that for the same costs to build a 10 bed Residential Hospice HHA can provide 250,000 hours of care – at minimum. And this is without putting a shovel in the ground, cutting a ribbon or having to go back to the government and donors to raise even more money to keep the building running.

Did You Know?

February is celebrated for National Flag of Canada Day (Feb. 15). It is a day to recognize and celebrate the country’s national symbol, an opportunity to show our love and appreciation for our nation and its people, and to do kind things for our fellow Canadians.

Love in a Brown Paper Bag

Check Our Blog Post

February is Heart month. Remember in your childhood when you taped a brown paper lunch bag to your school desk and hoped there would be a heart in it at the end of the day? Maybe you had parents who insisted that you give a valentine to each person in your class.
The Doula Training Program uses brown paper bags to remind participants that they are not walking the journey of care for others alone.
Each person takes home a bag filled with messages of care and love. But not all brown paper bags are beautiful, or filled with such love. What about those we or society may find ourselves passing judgement upon? Do we look upon them in the same way?

Moonlit Memory Walk - October 28, 2023

Determining who will walk for and why?

Each person participating in the Moonlit Memory Walk is walking in memory of a someone who has impacted their life, and whose life is deserving of memorialization, or they are walking to support one of important programs HHA provides. Read More