OLDS — The Olds and District Hospice Society (ODHS) created a new program to help people deal with grief, loss and isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kathy Kemmere of the ODHS made that announcement during the society’s annual general meeting (AGM) held last month at the Evergreen Centre.
Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on making a person’s end of life journey as comforting as possible.
During a presentation on the ODHS bereavement program Kemmere said in early April it was recognized that grief and loss were becoming “a huge part of our pandemic picture.”
So with help from Smith and service coordinator Ruby Elliott, a booklet and online program to deal with isolation were created.
“We launched this support program in June with six participants and met twice a week for 1.5 hours on Zoom,” Kemmere wrote in a report.
“The doubt I had in my own mind regarding the support for those grieving through technology quickly faded as the program was well received and we still connect by phone with the participants.
“This booklet has been distributed electronically and physically to many groups within our community and beyond.”
ODHS executive director Mary Smith updated attendees on the Nav-CARE program, which the society is operating.
Nav-CARE stands for Navigation, Connecting, Assessing, Resourcing and Engaging.
The program helps older adults with chronic illness stay in their homes with help from volunteers.
“The global COVID pandemic created challenges for our Nav-CARE program with many of our volunteers not able to connect in person with our clients,” Smith said.
“We saw a heightened need for connection, due to feelings of isolation of individuals with chronic illness.”
Smith said Nav-CARE is proving to be a kind of bridge to stay in a hospice suite.
“Nav-CARE is incredibly helpful to remove stigma associated with fear of hospice,” she said. “Many of our clients feel comfortable being a client through this program and quite often will transition into being a hospice client.
ODHS president Harold Johnsrude gave a review of the society’s last year.
Attendees were told that in 2020, seven individuals were served in hospice suites and 20 hospice individuals have been supported while living at home or with family.
“COVID has made it difficult to support hospice clients in the suites due to the regulations surrounding COVID-19 and the need for protecting the vulnerable residents at Seasons Encore, and our volunteers,” Johnsrude said.
Two of the long-time members of the ODHS– Kemmere and Dr. Steven Turner -- have stepped down from its board of directors.
For now, Johnsrude remains the society’s president. However, next year, Harvey Walsh will take on that role.
Four directors were added to the board during the society’s annual general meeting.
Dawn Elphick-Woodbury, Lorna Schrose, Dr. Vicki Wielenga and Pansy Angevine have been appointed to the board of directors for a three-year term.
Turner and Kemmere, a founder of the society, had both been on the board for nine years; the limit directors can serve on it.
Both were thanked for all they’ve done for the society.
Smith said Kemmere helped found the ODHS along with several other ladies about 13 years ago.
"It was really her dream and vision, along with four other ladies, that helped bring this into a reality. So I just don’t think without Kathy at the helm that this society would be where it is today,” Smith said.
She believes Turner has been involved for about 10 years.
Although Kemmere is not on the board, Smith said she’ll still be involved.
“She’s staying on our client services committee and still heading our bereavement program, so we’re pretty fortunate to have her staying involved,” Smith said.
"We’re happy that she’s staying with us. And I think she’ll always be advocating for the hospice society and connecting people to the palliative care resources that are available.”
Nineteen people attended the AGM in person, along with four who participated via Zoom for a total of 23.
That figure is down from an average attendance of 28 to 30, Smith said.
Smith attributed that difference to COVID concerns, but noted this year’s total isn’t a whole lot different than in previous years.
“We did physically distance and had sanitizer and masks available for our attendees,” she said.
During an interview, Smith said the society has gained members. She estimated it now has about 40 members, up from about 30 to 35 in previous years.
Smith has a theory as to why membership is up.
“I think through COVID and our Nav-CARE program we’re just connecting with more people,” she said. “I think it’s a really good time that we implemented that program for people living with chronic illness; feeling isolated."
“We’re just having a bigger branch-out and we’re just connecting with more people all the time,” she added.
