“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” This quote may have been made famous by comedienne Phyllis Diller, but one of her writers, Jeanne Opalach has lived by this motto her entire life. Jeanne, a Hospice of the Western Reserve patient with Dementia, recently shared her life stories as a collection of moments and challenges we all have to face. She embraced those moments with a lot of smiles, love and laughter.

Jeanne’s humor has seen her through the tough times in life, strengthened with honesty, love and her family. “I just tell it like it is,” she admitted. It is clear she views her life as a mosaic of events, weaved together by her optimism and straight-forward attitude. When asked to share some of the momentous events of her life, Jeanne kept shifting the conversation to focus on her children. Her daughter Pat gently reminded her that the interview was supposed to be about her life and to focus more on herself. Smiling, Jeanne responded, “I am about you though, that’s the thing.”

Jeanne happily tells the story of meeting her husband Joe at a beach party. “We were sitting on a log, facing each other, and seemed to have a lot in common,” Jeanne recalled. “Our eyes met, and he kissed me!” With a twinkle in her eye and a slight smirk, Jeanne continued: “And I kissed him back.” Soon they were married. Jeanne delights in sharing her wedding pictures. She wore a suit, fondly remembering it was a beautiful design by Priscilla of Boston.

Hospice of the Western Reserve

provides palliative end-of-life

care, caregiver support,

and bereavement services

throughout Northern Ohio.

In celebration of the individual

worth of each life, we

strive to relieve suffering,

enhance comfort, promote

quality of life, foster choice

in end-of-life care and

support effective grieving.

This Issue P1 Laughing her Way

Through Life

P2 Letter from the CEO

P3 Save the Date!

P4 32nd Annual Meeting

P4 City Club

P5 Have a Story to Share?

P5 And the Award Goes To...

hospicewr.orgwinter | 10

dignity choice life-enHancing comfortcareJourney

VOL. 26 - ISSUE 1

Laughing her way through Life

Left to right: Jeanne doing what she does best: laughing; Jeanne and Joe’s Wedding Day, August 1947.

Story continued on page 3.

As we enter this New Year, we look forward to accomplishing several goals which we embrace in the context of our vision. That is to be the premier provider for palliative end-of-life care, caregiver support and bereavement services throughout the communities we serve. Our newly updated strategic plan provides a chart for the next five years.

Here are some of the goals we are targeting for this year.

• Toexpandourservicetomorethan5,400patients. We expect to increase our daily census from 1,240 to more than 1,350 by the end of the 2010.

• ToexpandourserviceareatoincludeSummit County. We already serve people in this county. Opening an office and creating a specific team will permit us to better meet the needs there.

• Toinitiatetheconstructionofanewhospice house in Westlake.

• Toimplementaneffectivecommunicationand marketing initiative including media advertising campaign to increase awareness about hospice and recognition of distinctiveness.

• Tofurtherdevelopefficienciesthroughexpanded application of technology. We will significantly broaden our use of OnBase software as a result of more than $1.1 million in philanthropic support from Hyland Software.

• Todevelopafutureplanforourrecentlyacquired 12 acres of lakefront land adjacent to Hospice House.

• Tofullyimplementanemployeewellness program rooted in our wholistic philosophy.

In all that we do we will continue to utilize the tools and methods that we have incorporated through Adaptive Design. The fundamental and key guiding principle of this approach is to provide ideal patient care, with the understanding that ideal care may supersede commonly recognized standards of care. Integral components of ideal are:

• Giving the patient and caregiver exactlywhat they need

• Whenandwheretheyneedit

• Customizedindividually

• Immediateresponsetoproblems

• Withnowasteofresources

• Inanenvironmentthatissafe–physically,emotionally, spiritually and professionally –for all

Hospice of the Western Reserve’s volunteer and paid staff look enthusiastically toward achieving these goals in 2010. We welcome your support and participation as we accomplish these endeavors.

David A. SimpsonCEO, Hospice of the Western Reserve

letter froM tHe ceo

[ P2 ]

2010 board of directors

cHairRichard B. Whitney

vice cHairsCarl Baldassarre

James L. Hambrick

Peg Milbourn

secretaryCarolG.Manning

treasurerMary Ann Kocurko, CPA

Richard A. Barone

Joseph Carson

Rev. Neroy Carter

DavidG.Cole

Margit Daley

H. Clark Harvey, Jr.

Matthew T. Huber

Cynthia D. Hundorfean

Jean E. Kilgore, Ph.D.

Hilary Mason King

Michael J. Merriman

Wendy Miano

Virginia A. Mooney

David Mordarski

Janice Murphy

John D. Nash

Laura Navin

Mary L. Ogrinc

Elizabeth Pitorak, MSN

Derek Raghavan, M.D., Ph.D.

Sarah Robertson

James W. Rogerson

Richard T. Spotz, Jr.

William Springer

Tracy K. Stratford

Andre Thornton

Bret Williams

Honorary MeMbersDuane E. Collins

William J. Esselstyn

MarthaGrabner

MarinaB.Grant

Patricia Modell

Constance W. Sallee

Kate Scovil

Rev. William Spangler

cHief executive officer David A. Simpson

new Year, renewed Vision

[ P3 ]

Jeanne spent a great deal of energy making people laugh throughout her lifetime. Whether she was writing jokes for entertainer Phyllis Diller, or creating limericks for greeting cards, Jeanne’s passion and zeal for life was evident in everything she created. As she nears the end of life, Jeanne makes one fact very clear: “I’m not old,” she says, “I’m just getting older. Everyday I read the obituaries; I figure if I’m not in there I’m doing okay!”

Jeanne makes her home at the Precious Care Assisted Living in Painesville and she receives care from her Hospice of the Western Reserve team. Jeanne expressed her gratitude for their compassion and friendship. “They have my best interests at heart,” she explained. “I really feel that.”

The value in sharing stories and lessons learned is immeasurable for patients like Jeanne. After

everything she experienced and endured what Jeanne wanted most was to share her stories, and for someone to listen. “I think everyone can gain something from another person’s story—and I just hope I can pass on the love I’ve experienced in my life to someone else.”

Laughing Continued from page 1.

“I have had an

extremely happy

life,” she stated,

a dreamy smile

spreading across

her face. “I often

laugh when I think

about all of it!”

Please detach and return in the enclosed envelope. Thank you.

Donate online: hospicewr.org

Donate by phone: 800.707.8922

Please share words of comfort for those coping with a serious illness.

Love endures when it is shared…

Savethe DateVolunteer Appreciation Dinner & 14th Annual Katie Dolesh Lecture

wednesday, April 28th, 2010 Doors Open at 5:00 pm Dinner & Program at 5:30 pmExecutive Caterers at Landerhaven

GuEST SPEAKER

Robert MartensenAuthor of A Life Worth Living: A Doctor’s Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era

David Simpson provided insight and wisdom about end-of-life care alongside Dr. Stuart Younger, Chair of the Dept. of Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University and Dolores Christie, Director of the Catholic Theological Society of America at the City Club of Cleveland on November 18th. The panel discussion titled “The What, How and Why of Life’s End: Moral vs. Legal Dilemmas,” was moderated by Eric Kodish from the Department of Bioethics at the Cleveland Clinic.

Touching on issues such as ideologies about death and dying and the laws surrounding end-of-life care, David engaged the audience and fellow panelists. Attendees left with a copy of Hospice of the Western Reserve’s advance care planning guide, Courage in Conversation. To receive your own copy, please call 800.707.8922. To listen to the panel presentation, please visit: www.cityclub.org/mediacenter/cityclubpodcast

[ P4 ]

hospice of the western reserve featured at the City Club

The

Inspirational displays of music, poetry and artwork

welcomed a record attendance of over 200 guests

and staff for the 32nd Annual Meeting at Josaphat

Arts Hall on January 28th. The Soul’s Journey

highlighted the significance of expressive therapies

and spiritual care in hospice work. Many thanks

to the sponsors of this event: OPOC, Caring Tree

Senior Care, Home Instead Senior Care, Huntington

Woods Care and Rehabilitation Center, Infinity

Home Health Services and Wagon Wheel Films.

1. Art show. 2. Josaphat Arts Hall recently reopened as a

gathering space bringing people of all ethnicity together

through curiosity, respect and love of the arts. 3. Chair’s

Award recipients, Teen Volunteer, Dewon Hudson and

Keynote Speaker, Connie Schultz. 4. Chief Operating

Officer Bridget Montana and Board Member Mary Ann

Kocurko. 5. Sponsors, Jeff Kerbler and Dave Hertl from

OPOC mingle with Board Member, Clark Harvey.

6. Board Chair, Richard B. Whitney welcomes guests.

1.

3.

5.

2.

4.

6.

Hospice House & Headquarters300 East 185th StreetCleveland, OH 44119-1330p. 216.383.2222 or 800.707.8922 f. 216.383.3750Hospice Connect Line: 800.707.8921

asHtabula office1166 Lake AvenueAshtabula, OH 44004-2930p. 440.997.6619 f. 440.997.6478

cleveland office19201 Villaview RoadCleveland, OH 44119-3064p. 216.383.2222 f. 216.481.4940

Hospice care center at tHe renaissance26376 John RoadOlmsted Township, OH 44138p. 440.235.7100 f. 216.383.5298

lakewood office 14601 Detroit Avenue, Suite 100Lakewood, OH 44107-4212p. 216.227.9048 f. 216.227.9232

lorain county office2173 N. Ridge Road E., Suite HLorain, OH 44055-3400p. 440.284.2999

Mentor office5786 Heisley RoadMentor, OH 44060-1830p. 440.951.8692 f. 440.975.0655

university circle office10645 Euclid AvenueCleveland, OH 44106-2206p. 216.231.8650 f. 216.231.8291

warrensville HeigHts office4670 Richmond Road, Suite 200Warrensville Hts, OH 44128-5978p. 216.283.3140 f. 216.283.3181

westlake office29101 Health Campus DriveBuilding 2, Suite 400Westlake, OH 44145-5268p. 440.892.6680 f. 440.892.6690

tHe elisabetH severance prentiss bereaveMent center19201 Villaview RoadCleveland, OH 44119-3064p. 216.486.6838 f. 216.481.4987

Hospice resale sHop5139 Mayfield RoadLyndhurst, OH 44124-2405p. 440.442.2621 f. 440.646.0507

Journey is publisHed by:Communications Team

Hospice of the Western Reserve

david a. siMpsonChief Executive Officer

Medicare/Medicaid CertifiedJCAHO accredited

Copyright 2010. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

[ P5 ]

Palliative Care Program

Midwest Center for Home,

Hospice & Palliative Care Education

(MCE) honored Hospice of the

Western Reserve with The Rose

& Sam Stein Award for their

Palliative Care Program.

The Rose & Sam Stein Award

recognizes formally established

programs that have made a

significant, innovative and

extraordinary contribution to

hospice and end-of-life care.

Dwight BeeBe Hospice of the Western Reserve

Volunteer

Midwest Center for Home, Hospice

& Palliative Care Education

(MCE) honored Dwight Beebe,

with the Volunteers are the

Heart of Hospice Award.

The Volunteers are the Heart of

Hospice Award acknowledges

that volunteers are the foundation

on which quality hospice and

end-of-life care is built.

have a story to share?Hospice of the Western Reserve is launching a new blog,

The Soul’S Journey: Stories from the Heart of Hospiceto share experiences from our patients, families, volunteers and staff.

Visit hospicewr.org to read these inspirational messages.

do you have SomeThing To add? Visit hospicewr.org/tell_us_your_story_form.asp to submit yours!

Congratulations to David Simpson, CEO on receiving two awards in the fall: 2009 Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Nonprofit executive Director of the Year. This award recognizes nonprofit executive directors who effectively apply for-profit business principles to their organizations.

the Community Service Award sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic Regional hospitals. This award recognizes individuals from the community who have had a positive impact in the communities those hospitals serve.

and the award goes to…

Non-profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDCleveland, OH

Permit #848

Hospice House & Headquarters300 East 185th StreetCleveland, OH 44119-1330

Go Green! If you would like your copy of Journey emailed to you, please send your email address to erika Svitak at esvitak@hospicewr.org

[ P6 ]

Love endures when it is shared…

Love endures when it is shared…

We invite you to honor someone you love by making a

donation in their name, and ask you to write

a few words of comfort to be shared with those coping with a

serious illness. The stories will be displayed

in a special collection to help uplift our families.

Donate online: hospicewr.org Donate by phone: 800.707.8922