Tuesday, January 31, 2023

[News Boquete] Boquete Health and Hospice January Newsletter

Leadership Letter, Being Prepared Workshop, Walkers, Magic of Music and much more.

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Contents – January Newsletter, 2023
  • Our Mission Statement
  • Calendar of Events
  • Leadership Letter
  • 2023 Officers and Initiatives
  • Being Prepared Workshop Delivered to "Sold Out" Crowd
  • New Volunteer Class Starts the Year with Enthusiasm
  • Walkers Benefit Handicap Foundation
  • Thank You to Retire in Panama Team
  • Updated BHH Brochures Now Available
  • The Magic of Music 
  • Chris's Corner
  • Education Videos
  • Medical Equipment
  • The Tree of Life Donor Recognition
  • Make a Donation
  • Council Business
  • Contact Us
Our Mission Statement
 
Our mission is to inform and promote community health. To support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services. To provide palliative (hospice) care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain.
Calendar of Events
  • February 1 – Council Meeting (via Zoom only)
  • February 8  General Meeting and "Using Modern Social Media to Grow BHH," presented by Deb Hornstra (via Zoom and in-person at the Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete)
  • March – Council Meeting (via Zoom only)
  • March 8 – General Meeting (via Zoom and in-person at the Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete)
  • June 17 – Blood Drive (Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete)
Leadership Letter
 
Happy New Year, everyone!

The Boquete Health and Hospice organization is planning an exciting 2023. We are happy to announce that we resumed in-person Being Prepared workshops and New Volunteer training this month. So many people were interested in the workshop that we expanded to three sessions and eight new volunteers attended training. We will continue to expand volunteer teams throughout the year. We are cautiously getting our Hospice team back out to do home visits.

We are planning a Basic First Aid class and a CPR class in the coming months, and looking forward to fundraising events later in the year that will be fun-filled with food, music, and games. 

A master computer designer is working on perfecting our operations database and we are planning for much growth in our community outreach programs, headed by Lesley Hughes, VP, Community Relations. Lesley is also working with our marketing and social media teams to increase awareness and educate the community on the services and quality education that BHH offers.

We invite everyone to join us as a volunteer to strengthen our lives and our community.  

Best Wishes,
Kat McKay
Vice President, Operations
2023 Officers and Initiatives
 
On January 11, 2023, the membership of Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation met (in-person and via Zoom) and elected the following people to the governing council:
  • President – Open
  • Vice President, Community Relations – Lesley Hughes
  • Vice President, Operations – Kat McKay
  • Secretary – Keith Daniels
  • Treasurer – Bill Hinrichsen
  • Past President – John Earle
Also, three Patient Care Coordinators were appointed:
  • Bev Tyler
  • Craig Gatrel
  • Denise Daniels
The budget for 2023, which has been approved by the Council, was presented:
  • Income of $21,100 
  • Expenses of $26,872
The initiatives for 2023 were also presented. The general thrust for the year will be on a gradual resumption of our pre-pandemic activities: in-home visits, in-person meetings, and more community workshops and education, while continuing those activities Boquete Health and Hospice has done all along.

We also hope to fill the remaining volunteer positions soon. If you are interested, please contact
 Lesley Hughes to discuss your background and interests:
  • President
  • Hospice and Home Health Care Team Leader
  • IT Team Leader
  • Communications Team Leader
  • Newsletter Coordinator
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Fundraising Events Catering Coordinator
Being Prepared team from left to right: Kat McKay, Kelly Honyak, Sandra Cripe, and Dave Nichols.
Being Prepared Workshop Delivered to "Sold Out" Crowd

So many people wanted to attend Being Prepared for End of Life In Boquete Workshop this month, that three sessions were scheduled with 52 people signing up! The workshops were delivered by Kelly Honyak and Dave Nichols, who did an outstanding job. 

The participants are now much better prepared to control the legacy of what they leave behind to friends and family and comply with  Panamanian law while doing so.

Thanks to everyone who assisted in making the workshops a success, including Sandra CripeKat McCayLesley HughesCat Vann, and Herta Bernbach. And a big thank you to the Retire in Panamá team, who asked us to participate in their Q&A show and marketed the workshop and the manual to their followers, which drew a lot of attention to the workshop.

We received $670 in donations through the Being Prepared program including two generous donations of $500 and $100 to the general fund.

If you weren't able to attend, you can still purchase the Being Prepared manual at Mail Boxes Etc. or at the BHH table at the Tuesday Market for a donation of $10. The hard copy is available in English or Spanish. A PDF version will be available in the future through a minimal donation of $5 on the BHH website. Once that's possible, we'll announce it in this newsletter.

Being Prepared Workshop team from left to right: Cat Vann, Kat McKay, Kelly Honyak, Dave Nichols, Lesley Hughes, and Herta Bernbach.
New Volunteer Class Starts the Year with Enthusiasm
 
Eight  enthusiastic students participated in the January New Volunteer Training class. During the three information-packed days of class, students not only learned about the services that Boquete Health and Hospice provides, but also participated in hands-on training in the use of crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility equipment.
 
Each team from BHH was represented by speaker(s) who discussed in detail how they provide valuable services to the local community. From music programs to translation services, the Being Prepared workshop, the newsletter, and social media, students were able to ask questions of our BHH experts.
 
It is often thought that a medical background is required to become a member or volunteer with BHH. That is not true. Our volunteers are from various professional backgrounds and contribute to BHH in many different capacities.

We welcome our new volunteers and look forward to working with them to serve our community. 
The class began with an introduction to our Patient Care Coordinators Bev Tyler, Craig Gatrel, and Denise Daniels.
John Ferguson demonstrated how to set up and use an oxygen concentrator.
Natalie Kelly taught the class about the BHH newsletter and public relations efforts.
Kat and Larry Clayton shared their experience in navigating the local medical system during an emergency situation.
Students created puzzles representing the pieces that make up our complex organization.
With the help of a four-legged visitor, Chuck High and Lesley Hughes demonstrated the proper use of crutches.
Dr. Rod Gottula addressed the class about  death/grief and the signs of dying.
Sandra Cripe provided an overview of the Being Prepared workshop. 
Art Blevins introduced the BHH music program to the class.
We'll have another New volunteer class later this year. Watch this space for more info.
Walkers Benefit Handicap Foundation

We donated two of our walkers to the Handicap Foundation (Foundation Pro Integración) at the end of December. Sally Zigmond delivered the walkers to Migdalia Rios and Loesje Sherwood (pictured left), who run the retail store of the foundation.

Thank You 
to the 
Retire In Panamá Team!

 
Over the past few months Rod Larrivee and Oscar Peña have been instrumental in helping promote BHH. 
On November 7, 2022, BHH was invited to speak during a Retire In Panamá´s webinar regarding BHH's services, healthcare, and hospice care in Boquete. 

The response was overwhelming and following the workshop, Rod and Oscar continued to help BHH by promoting our Being Prepared for End of Life in Boquete workshop and manual. As a result of their help, BHH had a record number of sales for the manual and the first workshop immediately sold out. Two additional workshops were added to accommodate the demand.

BHH also received a wonderful surprise from Retire In Panamá in December. Retire In Panamá hosted its first holiday bash and proceeds from the raffle were donated to BHH! These funds are greatly appreciated and will be used towards the purchase and repair of the medical equipment that BHH loans to patients.

Partnering with Retire In Panamá is a unique and very rewarding experience which benefits both organizations. BHH looks forward to a continued friendship with Oscar, Rod, and everyone at Retire In Panamá!

More information about Retire In Panamá and its services can be found on their website
Updated BHH Brochure Now Available

BHH has produced a new paper trifold brochure updated with the latest information people need at a glance. In English and Spanish, the brochure is available at the Tuesday Marketing at our table and upon request.

Please email 
info@boquetehospice.org to reserve your copy or copies. If you are a member of any groups, consider ordering a supply to make available during your meetings or events. The brochure is especially important for anyone who does not use the internet.
 
The Magic of Music

How often do you intentionally listen to music with another person?  Music can be cathartic when we listen together, as is evident when we attend concerts, symphonies, or any of the innumerable venues around the world where people gather to enjoy music together. But how often do we participate in sharing music together on a smaller scale, as Willeke Pena describes in her quote above? We can intentionally listen to music together as a tool to rise above the chaos and noise of our daily lives, and the Magic of Music Team invites you to try it out for yourself to see how beneficial it can be! Grab the arm of someone you are close to, and together check out the Magic of Music Team's collection of music playlists that can be utilized for various health and wellness purposes. You can find those playlists at this link: Music Playlists.

The team can build custom-tailored playlists that can help patients and their caregivers who contact Boquete Health and Hospice for assistance. We also have music players and mini speakers available to lend.  You can find out more on the 
BHH website, or join the conversation with the Magic of Music Community Group on Facebook. Contact BHH at WhatsApp at +507-6781-9250 for assistance.

Happiness Comes from Many ThingsExpressing Gratitude Makes Us More Joyful
 
We derive happiness from a myriad of things, from baking and spending time in nature to passing time with our families, but according to a new survey, expressing gratitude each and every day might make us more joyful overall. 
The study, conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Motivosity, examined how 2,000 Americans felt about their lives. Nearly 65% of survey respondents who said that they were "very happy" on a regular basis also said that they practiced sharing their gratitude consistently.
Read the Article
Education Videos

BHH is happy to offer education videos on our website. They provide excellent info for caregivers and the general public in Spanish and English. Topics cover using equipment including crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers, as well as moving patients safely for patient and caregiver and general patient care. There are also informative videos on Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. To learn more, visit our website using the button below and go to Patient Caregiver Videos, Español Paciente Videos, or Dementia and Alzheimers in the dropdown menu under the Education tab.
Videos
Need Medical Equipment?
 
If you or someone you know has a need to borrow or return equipment, please contact our patient care coordinators (PCCs) at 6781-9250. All requests related to equipment must go through the PCCs. The PCCs will work with you or the caregiver to determine the appropriate equipment, availability, and loan period. Once the equipment need is identified, the PCCs coordinate with the equipment team to ensure the correct equipment is sanitized and ready to be checked out (picked up) at our locker located at Alto Dorado. A member of the equipment team will contact you or the caregiver directly to make arrangements to meet at our locker.
Please note that our equipment team members only go to the locker for scheduled equipment checkouts and returns. No equipment team member is staffed at the locker and the locker is only open during specific times. Therefore, it is important to contact the PCCs first. When you are ready to return equipment, the process is the same. Simply call the PCCs at 6781-9250.

If you are using a piece of equipment for the first time, be sure to visit our website using the button below and go to Patient Caregiver Videos or Español Paciente Videos in the dropdown menu under the Education tab to learn more about using equipment and caring for patients in the home.
Videos

Tree of Life 
 
Boquete Health and Hospice gratefully recognizes the names of our extremely dedicated and very generous donors on our website. Their kindness keeps our Tree of Life growing and strong. A huge thank you to all of our contributors!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE 
 
For the time being, PayPal is unavailable for donations, including donations for the Being Prepared manual. BHH is currently working to get a new PayPal account set up. Until then, follow the directions below to make a donation and check our website for updates on PayPal.
Donate
Council Business
To bring topics to the attention of the Council for discussion, please send an email to Keith Daniels, who will  add it to the next monthly agenda. PLEASE do not send a general email, which tends to create confusion. The Council will consider, discuss, and vote (if needed) on the topic and inform the membership as appropriate.

Voting members of the Council are: President 
– Open
Vice President, Community Relations 
– Lesley Hughes
Vice President, Operations – Kat McKay
Secretary 
– Keith Daniels
Treasurer 
– Bill Hinrichsen
Patient Care Coordinator 
– Bev Tyler
Patient Care Coordinator 
– Craig Gatrel
Patient Care Coordinator 
– Denise Daniels
Past President 
– John Earle
Council minutes are now on the BHH website at BHH minutes. All future minutes will also be posted there. 
The policies of the organization are posted on our website and are updated as needed at BHH policies.
We Respect Patient Confidentiality 
 
All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. When names are used in testimonials or other marketing materials, we have obtained permission from those mentioned. 
Contact Us
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm 
Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 1pm
Hospice/Health: 507-6781-9250         
Blood Donor Program: WhatsApp +507-6590-2000 or call 507-6781-9250
Email: 
info@boquetehealth.org
Website: boquetehealth.org

Check us out and like us at: FacebookInstagramand YouTube! 
Newsletter team: Natalie Kelly–Editor, Deb Hornstra–Features/Writer, and Fran Hogan Creative–Image Editor. Thanks to everyone who submitted articles and photos for this issue! Send submissions to BHH newsletter.
Freely send this to anyone or use any part.
Our mailing address is:
info@boquetehealth.org


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