Supportive Care
The Supportive Care Committee works at enhancing the hospice environment where the Patient and their family feel wrapped in a circle of holistic supportive care.
Palliative Care Resources
When a Patient’s condition is deemed as incurable, and their care transitions from acute to palliative, there is a shift that is a monumental one for the Patient and their Family. Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw want to offer some resources to support that shift in moving from curative to comfort care. This Palliative Care Resource Handbook was created to offer information resources to better understand and navigate the holistic needs and care of the Patient as they journey the final chapter of their life.
Bereavement Resources
Grief is a natural part of the palliative journey for the Patient and their Family, and is not reserved for end-of-life alone, but a part of each symptom, diagnosis, and shift throughout the final chapter of the Patient’s life. Since the processing of losses can be an integral part of acceptance and peace, Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw offer this Bereavement Resource Handbook to support the emotional journey of the Patient and their family from Anticipated Mourning to Bereavement to the Hope that is possible by doing the healing griefwork.
Care for the Caregiver Resources
While the Hospice Patient is receiving holistic care to support their end-of-life days, Heartland Hospice wants to honour the role of the Family Caregivers and offer resources to support their wellbeing. There can be a high toll on the Caregiver, and so we offer this “Care for the Caregiver Handbook” which highlights the value of self care for their body, mind and spirit and offers information resources for all.
Journaling the Story of My Life
It is natural at the end of life to experience a “Life Review”, and it can be a very cathartic process for the Patient to journal (or have someone scribe) the story of their life. It is not only a healing journey for the Patient, but can be a very healing and insightful experience for the Family. Heartland Hospice offers this Journaling tool with “prompts” to support the telling and memorializing of the Patient’s story.
Spiritual Care Resources
The holistic wellbeing of the Heartland Hospice Patients and their Families is our highest priority; therefore, supporting spiritual care and connections to those resources that nurture spirit is seen as invaluable. We would like to offer some suggestions on ways to honour the needs of the spirit of the Patient and their Family through this Spiritual Care Resource.
Comfort Choir
Comfort choirs are small groupings of 3-4 singers who share their gift of music at the bedside of patients in palliative care, hospice, care homes as well as in their own home. Moose Jaw is blessed to have one such Comfort Choir. They are available to visit Heartland Hospice upon request, and have a large repertoire of secular and spiritual favourites to draw upon, offering their gentle presence and soothing music to the patient’s side.
“It’s just a lovely type of gift we hope to be able to offer people who are facing some challenges,” said Tara Gish, coordinator of the Comfort Choir. “We certainly want to be patient-centered and responsive to what patients want to hear. But of course, the whole idea is that it’s not entertainment, it’s an offering of a gift.”
~Tara Blanche Gish Nov. 30, 1955 – July 22, 2021 – Founding Member of the Comfort Choir
Once COVID restrictions are lifted, the Comfort Choir will be available to share their gift of music by contacting:
Joan Stumborg at 306-630-5249
“Music has healing power.
It has the ability to take people
out of themselves for a little while.”
Elton John
MY WISH Program
What is My Wish?
The ‘My Wish’ Program is coordinated by Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw to assist terminally ill individuals who are seeking peace and closure with the realization of a final wish. Wishes are intended to be simple and carry little cost, but be rich in meaning for patients, families, and health care providers. Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw has partnered with other community agencies and sponsors to make an individual’s wish come true.
CELEBRATION OF LOVE
April, 2021
PLANT A ROSE AND LIVING CELEBRATION OF LOVE
May, 2021
A VISIT FROM MISTY
THE MEDAVIE WEST HEALTH SERVICES FACILITY DOG
March, 2022
Annual Memorial Ceremony
As a way of honouring the memory of those who have lived their life’s end at on the Memory Lane Wing of Pioneer Lodge, and the families who supported them, we offered our 1st Annual Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw Memorial Ceremony. In the sanctuary of the outdoors, we gathered in the Heartland Hospice Serenity Garden at 1000 Albert St. West (Pioneer Lodge East Lawn) for the ‘Heartlights’ Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 7 pm.
This Memorial Ceremony offered an opportunity for the families to return to the hospice’s sacred grounds, and lift up the name and memory of their Beloved in the safety of those surroundings, with others who understood. The program involved the peace-filled music of the Moose Jaw Comfort Choir; readings by SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority) workers and Heartland Hospice Board Members; and the Dedication of the Serenity Garden Gazebo (donated by the Eberts family in memory of Richard Eberts). In the serenity of the garden families gathered and remembered with a deep sense of solidarity. We are so grateful to all who helped contribute to the meaningful evening it was.
“ We are Bearers of their Light.”
Advanced Care Planning
While end-of-life conversations can feel difficult, they can be some of the most crucial conversations between a Patient and their Family. Having directives in place while a Patient is capable of doing so can make the final chapter more manageable with the Patient’s wishes being known, alleviating guesswork. As a way of supporting such crucial conversations, Heartland Hospice offers this Advanced Care Planning Resource to assist Patients and their Families in end-of-life conversations and decision making.
memoryKPR
“I have this fear that I’m going to forget the sound of their voice.”
(A sentence spoken by many bereaved.)
Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw Inc. is honoured to work in partnership with Jessica McNaughton, founder of memoryKPR. We believe that the ability to record a person’s story offers the family a priceless treasure and healing tool, and so does Jessica. That’s what memoryKPR is all about.
Use memoryKPR technology to capture and protect your story. It’s a cathartic part of the journey but also allows your legacy to live on in pictures, videos, text, and voice recordings. Capture your life’s experience, stories, and wisdom in this application. memoryKPR allows you to record and protect your memories in a digital application – it’s downloadable but also only one click away for those you love. Use the Journal Prompts if you aren’t sure where to start. You can also invite others to contribute easily – if you want to have greetings from loved ones also just a click away.
memoryKPR offers a free account, 50 pieces of media, and one author, however, they have a program for Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw where they will donate a Pro Account for free.
For more information email Info@memoryKPR.com and request your Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw discount code.