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The Vision and Mission Statements for Boquete Health and Hospice
The vision statement for BHHF is: Supporting a Healthy Community
Our mission is to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with needs by providing information, equipment, and services.
As part of the mission to support a healthy community BHHF provides community information programs, health related articles in our newsletter and in the media and a presence at community functions like the Tuesday Market and Boquete Jazz and Blues Fest.
Perspectives on Grief
In speaking with members of our community whose spouses have died, it is clear that the different perspectives on grieving are very personal. Everyone experiences grief differently.
Were you the main caregiver for a long time for a disabled or dying spouse? Did your spouse die sooner than expected in your life together? Did your spouse die suddenly and unexpectedly? In a split second everything in life changes. These different scenarios, and people's various reactions to the death of a loved one, have to do with the circumstance of the death, the quality of the relationship, as well as with the personality of the one left behind.
As described by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, the five stages of grief, shock/denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the loss. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. However, emotions are malleable, they are not fixed, and they do not usually follow steps 1 to 5 in order.
Reactions can show up simultaneously. For example anger because of all the things that you now have to take care of, feeling sorry for yourself, not knowing, now, what to do with yourself as your identity has shifted, and feeling guilty for a sense of relief when the passing is a blessing for both the deceased and the caregiver. Sometimes grieving is unconventional and does not fit into the 5 stages framework at all, such as the feeling of being set free.
During the grieving process we may experience myriad emotions, such as confusion, sadness, fear, guilt or hopelessness. These feelings will vary in intensity. Emotional ups and downs are a normal part of any grieving process. The paradox may be that in order to get past the difficult feelings, you must experience them. Grief has its own time schedule and will heal you if you allow it to.
It is important to be kind to yourself, especially in the early stages. Get a massage, accept invitations from friends, embrace your pets. Pets can provide great comfort and can help the overwhelming need for touch or hugs. They even give you somebody to talk to in the middle of the night.
Many people feel isolated and alone after the death of a spouse. After a short time has passed, "others" seem to forget that you are still in unknown territory, or they might not know how to be with you in this new land. It's important to realize there is help out there, you are not alone, but it's not always an easy thing to acknowledge or ask for. You don't have to face this alone.
Certain areas of one's life take longer to heal than others. When a painful loss first occurs it is impossible to imagine that anything good could come from it. There is a richness to grief that is seldom acknowledged. There is the possibility to learn things about yourself you would not have discovered any other way. You may find strength and resilience you didn't know you had. Your capacity for compassion and empathy may deepen. Over time the memories of good times will exceed the painful ones, and you may be able to appreciate good times more than ever before.
Written by
Babbie Earle, Judy Sacco, and Carol Cardinale-Santana
Continuing Education Is Here! 
We have a new focus for our monthly general meetings. At every meeting there will be an informational presentation in addition to the usual agenda. The presentations will include, but not be limited to: speakers, group discussions, mini-workshops and book and article reviews. Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings. We meet the second Thursday of the month every month. Our meetings take place at the Amigos de Animales Event building in Alto Boquete and begin at 1pm.
Book Corner 
The Biblioteca de Boquete has an extensive selection of books related to hospice topics. There are over 70 titles in this book section. Be watching for future postings in the newsletter Book Corner section. We will have book recommendations, book reports and other offerings.
Please take 1 minute to view our descriptive video. Click on the link: https://youtu.be/EbYmYqBRs3Y We have entered our video in the Video Festival. The festival has been postponed. Between June 1-14 go to the YouTube link and click on the thumbs up to vote for our video. You can only vote once. We will appreciate your votes!!  To Make a Donation: BHHF functions with the donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution by check or cash contact Laurie Collier, our treasurer, at lojocollier@yahoo.com to arrange a place and time to pick up your donation.
For more information, visit our website:
www.boquetehealth.org
We also have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks
Please Like our page and Share the contents with your friends and families.
To Contact Us
Hospice/Health: 507.6781.9250
Blood Donor Program: 507.6590.2000
E-mail: boquetehospice@gmail.com
E-mail: boquetehealth@gmail.com
Confidentiality
All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence.
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