You matter because of who you are. You matter to the last moment of your life and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die….
Dame Cicely Saunders, Founder of the first modern Hospice.
The Month of May has been a very busy one as we have broken another record of services provided to the community. In May we made 309 individual nursing visits to patients and their families. The work has been very rewarding for us all, as the local community grows in acceptance of the Hospice concept and the help we provide during most difficult times.
At this point in 2014 we have served 91 patients and their families compared to 61 the same time last year. The demand for our service has continued to increase. This year we have had to be more selective in patients we are able to serve; only admitting those who are terminally ill with a prognosis of 6 months or less.
In November of last year we started a grief support group which meets at the Hospice office every other Wednesday. This Spanish speaking support group is for people who have lost a loved one. Although most of the people using this service have had a person served by Hospice, sessions are also opened to the general public. The group is directed by Octavio Roblero, an experienced psychologist. In the month of May we were able to assist 23 people processing their loss in a non–judgmental environment. This support group accepts donations from participants to help cover the expenses.
In July we will receive new equipment from SEDESOL, very timely for Hospice as we did not receive a grant from SEDESOL or Beneficial Publica last year due to changes in the national leadership. The 10 new portable hospital beds, including mattresses and side rails, are enabling us to retire six old heavy beds which were brought from the States in 2007. We will now be able to rent a few beds to people in need, but who do not qualify for our services (because they are not terminally ill). SEDESOL is offering to cover some of the cost of vehicle fuel, as our increased service level requires additional driving miles. Last year was a very difficult year in obtaining the resources needed to provide services. With the support of these new grants we look forward to a much less stressful 2014. “Thank you” to Adriana Carrillo, Hospice’s administrator and Grant writer. We are also grateful to the city for providing monthly assistance to help us provide services for the residents here.
The other wonderful news is that two new programs started this year — one from the federal government called: “Programa de Vida para Jefas de Familia.” This is a grant for single parent families, when the parent passes away. The money can be used to keep the children together with a caregiver within the family, and is paid bimonthly as long as the child stays in school. It will pay for the child up to the age of 23. So far this year our social workers have applied for and received assistance for 13 different families – a total of 20 children – through the “Seguro de Vida para Jefas de Familia.”
The Mayor of Mazatlán has introduced a program called “PROBEC.” This program helps parentless children with food support, covers the cost of public school expenses and transportation to school while the child is in the primary educational system. We have helped apply for and obtained six scholarships from the Mayor’s program for six children. Our social worker, Marlin Sanchez Zamudio and our two social worker interns Amalia Soto Cota and Jessica Barron have been doing a terrific job helping these families.
We also have a wonderful psychologist, Alexandra Kelly, who is available for children who need assistance with grief and other issues surrounding a death of a parent. We provide a safe place for the children to receive emotional support as they process the loss of a parent.
“Thank you” to Judy Wolfberg for teaching English classes to the staff of Hospice. They really appreciated her work. Special thanks Aurora Garcia de Treviño for her nursing education classes. Also, Hector Treviño, Bill Demmer, Henri Jarrat, Luis Caballero, Terry Topf, and David Croly for their work with fund raising.
We are continually grateful to Dr Levid Torres, who has volunteered for Hospice since its conception. We would not be the institution we are without his assistance.
The “Planning for the Evitable” books written by Murry Page are available at Post and Ship in the golden zone, the Hospice office in Palos Prietos (near old Leys), and the English Library. This book addresses estate planning in Mexico and only costs 150 pesos, with all proceeds benefiting Hospice. Thank you, Murry.
Hospice would also like to thank Dr Simi foundation for providing packets of food and medication for our families in need, and the Red Cross for providing personal hygiene packets for our patients in need.
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
Hospice will be involved with teaching classes this summer funded by the Mexican federal government program called “HABITAT.” This summer we will be teaching in four underserved neighborhoods: Villa Tituli, Lomos del Ebano, Valles del Ejido and Francisco I. Madero. We will be teaching two different classes, “First Aid” and “Cancer Prevention.” Following the cancer prevention classes Habitat will be funding a hundred pap smears for the women in attendance. We are grateful for the opportunity to help address these women’s healthcare issues. This year we have served many young women dying from cancer, whose death could have been prevented if they had sought treatment early in the disease process.
A sincere “Thank you” to the foreign community of Mazatlán, whose continued support of Hospice Mazatlán has been invaluable. Without your support Hospice Mazatlán could not exist. The impact of your generosity can not be overstated, as together we try to make Mazatlán a better place for all of us.
Sincerely,
Lois Croly, RN, BSN, DC.
Nursing/Clinical Director
Hospice Mazatlán
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