Fall 2016

know your options - hospice myth vs. fact

continued on next page

becauseit’s about living

When people hear the word hospice, they often shy away from learning

more because they have pre-conceived notions on what it really is.

With November being National

Hospice and Palliative Care Month,

we are joining hospices across

the nation to reach out and raise awareness about the highest quality

care for people coping with a life-limiting illness. Know Your Options

is the theme for 2016, which means it’s important to dispel the many

myths that often keep people from truly exploring their options.

If you or a loved one is facing a serious or life-limiting illness,

the best time to learn about your options is before you’re faced

with a medical crisis.

It’s important to know that Cedar Valley Hospice offers both palliative

and hospice care. What’s the difference? Palliative care offers guidance

and support earlier in the course of an illness, while the patient is still

seeking curative treatments. Hospice brings you and your family high-quality, compassionate care when a cure is not possible.

Time we share with our loved ones is never enough. It is so important to become educated today so when the time comes to

make critical decisions, you already know your options. By calling Cedar Valley Hospice, you know you will get your questions

answered by the experts – who will also help you live each moment of life to the fullest.

HospiceMytH

#1Enrolling in

hospice means you’re giving up.

Enrolling in hospice is choosing to focus on quality of life and focused care. People enrolled in hospice actually live, on average, 29 days longer than thosenot enrolled.

HospiceFACT

Dr. Duane Jasper refers patients to Cedar Valley Hospice because he

believes in our care team. He understands the wealth of knowledge

we possess and that his patients and family will be cared for by

the best. “Cedar Valley Hospice has excellent nurses, hospice aides,

social workers and spiritual care services that are able to comfort

families and guide them through their journey,” said Jasper.

“They explain the different stages the patient will go through

as well as provide the patient with the necessary medications and equipment they

may need, such as a hospital bed, home oxygen or pain medications. Sometimes

families just get worn out and Cedar Valley Hospice is readily available to assist.”

Dr. Duane Jasper

Our MissionCedar Valley Hospice provides

the leadership and sets the standard

for excellence in delivering

comprehensive palliative and

end-of-life care to patients and

services to those who grieve.

Grundy Center Office310 East G Ave.Grundy Center, IA 50638319.824.3868

Independence Office801 First St. EastIndependence, IA 50644319.334.6960

Waverly Office207 20th St. NWWaverly, IA 50677319.352.1274

Hospice Home2001 Kimball Ave.Waterloo, IA 50702319.272.1771

Our LocationsWaterloo Central Office2101 Kimball Ave., Suite 401Waterloo, IA 50702319.272.2002800.617.1972

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Myth: To get hospice care, I will have to leave my home for an inpatient facility.

Hospice Myth vs. Fact

Myth: Hospice care is just for people with a cancer diagnosis.

Fact: Hospice serves a variety of people and ages dealing with serious illnesses

with a prognosis of six months or less to live. This can include: heart, lung,

kidney and neuro muscular diseases as well as a dementia diagnosis.

Myth: Hospice care is expensive and my family won’t be able to afford it. $

Myth: All hospice providers are pretty much the same.

Fact: Hospice providers are independent entities and can be for

profit or not-for-profit (like Cedar Valley Hospice), providing a wide

range of different services.

Fact: Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurances.

At Cedar Valley Hospice, no one is denied service for inability to pay.

Hospice actually alleviates a financial burden because all medical needs are

paid for through the hospice benefit.

Fact: Hospice is not a place, it is a concept of care. At Cedar Valley Hospice, 96% of hospice patients

receive hospice services wherever they call home.

Myth: If it’s time for hospice, my doctor will talk to me about it.

Fact: Many doctors wait for a patient to bring up hospice, leading to a late

enrollment. Families/patients often tell Cedar Valley Hospice that they wish

they had known about hospice sooner. Anyone can make a referral.

Myth: If I enroll in hospice, I will have to give up my primary care doctor.

Fact: When enrolled in hospice, a patient’s primary care doctor becomes

more involved with care because the hospice team communicates with

them on a regular basis about needs.

As we welcome the crisp fall air, it is a reminder to us that the

end of the year is near. This is a great time to reflect on the

year that has gone by and plan for what is left to accomplish.

This has been a year of change at Cedar Valley Hospice,

from the retirement of Marvin Fagerlind and my move to the

Executive Director position, to the welcoming of hundreds of

patients and families through the doors of a newly remodeled

Hospice Home.

We have also had some challenges, most notably the nursing

shortage impact on our recruiting efforts. In response, we

boosted our marketing efforts to attract the most qualified

professionals in the industry. We also continue to be

challenged by the ever-changing regulatory environment in

the healthcare industry. While this keeps us on our toes, we

do not take our responsibility lightly to provide the best care

for our patients, and we will continue to strive everyday to

‘Make Each Moment Matter’ for you and your loved ones.

To optimize the benefits we can provide to patients and

families, we’ve concentrated on getting earlier referrals and

educating the community. Therefore, we’ve focused our

efforts on expanding our outreach further within the

communities, doctor’s offices and facilities to ensure that

people ask for us by name when they need palliative and

end-of-life care or our grief services. Ultimately, we still

remain the community’s choice for hospice services, and

we’ve had the privilege of serving over 1,000 clients and

family members this year. Although changes and challenges

are continual, our commitment to our mission and the com-

munities we serve is unwavering.

The fall is also a time the Hospice and Palliative Care

Association of Iowa gives special recognition to some of our

volunteers who do so much for our patients and families

(see page 11 for a closer look at our 2016 Honorees).

Our volunteers spend countless hours with patients,

volunteering at the Hospice Home, baking cookies, quilting,

helping plan and work at our fundraising events and being an

advocate for Cedar Valley Hospice. We would never be able

to provide the services we do without our committed and

compassionate volunteers!

We also celebrate National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

in November. This is the perfect time for us to share with

others what Cedar Valley Hospice is all about, how our

organization can make a positive

impact in the lives of those

who need our services

as well as the importance

of asking for us by name.

So many of us have a personal

story to tell about how Cedar

Valley Hospice has impacted

our lives – please share those

stories! By doing this, you have

the opportunity to help others.

While fall is my favorite season, I know – with holidays

approaching – it can also be a difficult time for those who

have experienced the death of a loved one. Throughout

October, our memorial services, held at all of our sites, allow

us to pause and reflect on the last year and those we miss.

Simply hearing the name of our loved ones who have died

read out loud reminds us that we are not alone in our grief

journey and that they will not be forgotten.

Thank you for being a part of the

Cedar Valley Hospice family.

message from michaelaFrom the Executive Director, Michaela Vandersee

Share your story!Has Cedar Valley Hospice

made an impact in your life or the life of a loved one?

• Post a comment on our Facebook page• Email testimonial to cvhospice@cvhospice.org• Call 319.272.2002

release & remember marks record support

Thank you To our sponsors:

prEMIEr• Burk and Julie Miehe• Cedar Valley Medical

Specialists

• Bill Colwell Ford• Cosmetologists and Barbers of Iowa, Inc. - The Magnificent Seven• Hagarty Waychoff

Grarup Funeral Service

• John Deery Motors• Locke Funeral Home

• Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services• UAW Local 838

6

• Jennifer’s On Main• Magee Construction

• Scott & Chris Schildroth• Swisher & Cohrt

• Veridian Credit Union• Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

LEaDEr

The hot and humid weather on Aug. 28 didn’t keep a record

number of people from attending the 5th Annual Release

& Remember event. Cedar Valley Hospice is grateful to

all who assisted, attended and supported the event this

year, which marked another record year for support, raising

more than $58,000. It has also given many of us a chance

to memorialize or honor those who have who have made a

significant impact on our lives.

The day included a picnic lunch, children’s activities and

music by the Cedar Valley Big Band. The event culminated

with a short program emceed by KWWL’s Eileen Loan and

the release of 1000 monarch butterflies over the beautiful

backdrop of the Cedar River.

The Dedication Station, an area displaying the names of those being remembered, continued to be a popular and emotionally

moving destination for all who attended. Guests took a moment to read the tribute names and reflect upon the lives of those

being celebrated. Many took photos of their loved ones’ names as a lasting reminder of the day.

Development Director Chris Olds said, “When we first came up with the idea of a butterfly release as a fundraiser to support

the programs and services of Cedar Valley Hospice, we couldn’t have imagined that it would grow to be this big!”

Executive Director Michaela Vandersee expressed our overall gratitude the best,

“I thank you on behalf of all of the Cedar Valley Hospice staff and volunteers and all

those we serve for being here today, supporting our cause and allowing us

the privilege of continuing to care for those you love.”

Mark your calendars for next year’s

Release & Remember on Sunday,

September 10, 2017 at

the RiverLoop

Amphitheatre.

Several generations of the Squiers family gathered at this year’s event in memory of Joe Squiers and to celebrate his life.

LEaDEr• Adams Evenson & Co. PC

• Black Hawk Masonic Lodge #65• Community Auto Group

• ConAgra Foods• Dennis Krugert

• Bertch Cabinets / Family of Marge Youngblut

(for her love of music)• Waterloo Crossroads Rotary

hEro

ConTrIBuTor• Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes

• Ubben Building Supplies

ChaMpIon

In 5 yEars, rELEasE & rEMEMBEr has raIsED MorE Than

To BE usED TowarD hospICE sErvICEs for paTIEnTs anD faMILIEs, provIDIng

grIEf supporT To aDuLTs anD ChILDrEn, supporTIng our CEDar

aIDs supporT sysTEM, funDIng LInk

paLLIaTIvE CarE sErvICEs anD

MaInTaInIng ThE CEDar vaLLEy

hospICE hoME.“$190,000

“ConTrIBuTor

• Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes• Ubben Building Supplies

The tradition of giving continues with the annual Cedar Valley Hospice Tree of Love fundraiser.

This provides an opportunity to memorialize or honor a loved one with a gift. Depending on your

level of giving, you will receive a bookmark or special ornament as an expression of our sincere

appreciation. Each ornament (shown above) is as unique as the loved ones you choose to

honor or memorialize with your contribution. A gift to the Cedar Valley Hospice Tree of Love

also helps support our mission of Making Each Moment Matter at this meaningful time of year.

You are also invited to attend one of our Tree of Love ceremonies which will be held in

Waterloo, Grundy Center, Independence and Waverly in December. Attending guests will

enjoy refreshments and entertainment along with an opportunity for reflection.

tree of love

Thank you to our Tree of Love sponsors:

Silver Angel with TasselGiving Level

$25 - $49

Clear Globe with Winter SceneGiving Level

$50 - $99

Pearlized Green Bell with HollyGiving Level $100 - $249

* Special thanks to Roth Jewelers for their generous donation of Swarovski ornaments.

HeroFarmers State BankPerformance Bodies, Inc.(in memory of Paul Braun)

ContributorGrundy National Bank

ChampionBill Colwell FordCosmetologists and Barbers of Iowa, Inc. - The Magnificent SevenHagarty Waychoff Grarup Funeral ServiceJohn Deery MotorsLocke Funeral HomeOptum Hospice Pharmacy ServicesUAW Local 838

PremierBurk & Julie MieheCedar Valley Medical Specialists

Your gifts benefit the nearly 1000 hospice patients and families we serve each year as well as hundreds more family members and clients through our grief department, LINK Palliative Care, CASS program and at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home. Join us for a special Tree of Love ceremony in your area:

WaverlyTuesday, December 6

6:45 p.m.Waverly Civic Center

200 First St. NE

WaterlooSunday, December 4

1:30 p.m.Waterloo Center for the Arts

225 Commercial St.

IndependenceThursday, December 8

6:30 p.m.Prairie Hills Assisted Living

505 Enterprise Dr.

Grundy CenterSunday, December 11

2 p.m.Arlington Place Assisted Living

95 D Ave.

LeaderDennis KrugerMagee ConstructionMeyer Pharmacy - WaverlyTransport Permits

tree of love

Yes, I wish to support the 2016 Tree of Love fundraiser! Enclosed is my tax-deductible gift.Note: you can also donate to this fundraiser online at cvhospice.org.

My gift is in memory of (deceased):

My gift is in honor of (living):

My name

Address

City

Email

State Zip

Make check payable to: Cedar Valley Hospice

Please mail your gift and this form to: Cedar Valley Hospice • PO Box 2880 • Waterloo, IA 50704

$1-$24 Bookmark

$25-$49 Silver Angel with Tassel

$50-$99 Clear Globe with Winter Scene

$100-$249Pearlized Green Bell with Holly

$250-$499 Gold Sequined Star

$500-$999Swirl-Glass Heart with Bow

$1000+Swarovski Crystal Snowflake

Gold Sequined StarGiving Level $250 - $499

Swirl-Glass Heart with BowGiving Level $500 - $999

Swarovski Crystal SnowflakeGiving Level

$1000+

Please charge my Visa or Mastercard. Amt: $ Card Number

Exp. Date CVV/CVC Code Signature

OR

Please select where you would like your gift to be used:

Area of greatest need Grundy CenterWaterloo Independence Waverly Hospice Home

Ornaments and bookmarks are available for pick up at each site.

Tree of Love

Levels of Giving

Cedar Valley Hospice was honored to host the seventh annual physician education

event on September 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cedar Falls. Area physicians

gathered for an evening of education, dinner and camaraderie. Speakers

included: Elizabeth Day, DO, Pulmonologist at Trinity Regional Medical Center in

Fort Dodge; Jason Kimbrel, PharmD, BCPS, Vice President of Operations & Clinical

Services for Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services; and Michael Deters, MD,

Assistant Medical Director for Cedar Valley Hospice. They presented their

expertise on 2016’s topic: Medical Management for the Pulmonary Patient in

Palliative and Hospice Care. Special thanks to Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services

for helping support this event.

CASS gift card drive

physician education event

The Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS) is in its 28th year of supporting those

in our service area affected by HIV or AIDS. To date in 2016, 40 percent of

Cedar Valley Hospice’s CASS clients are living under the poverty line. To assist

those we serve through the CASS program, an annual gift card drive is held to

brighten the holidays of many families impacted. CASS will be collecting money,

gift cards or basic need items (toilet paper, tissue, paper towels, laundry soap,

toothpaste, soap, shampoo and deodorant) through December 16, at the

Cedar Valley Hospice office on the fourth floor of the Kimball Ridge Center,

2101 Kimball Ave., Waterloo. For more information, please contact the

CASS department at 319.272.2437.

• Memorials

• Corporate and individual sponsorships

• In-kind gifts or services

• Attend and support Cedar Valley Hospice fundraising events

• Employee gift matching programs

• Stock gifts

• Estate gifts

• Make a donation online at cvhospice.org

• When shopping on Amazon, have a portion of your spending go toward Cedar Valley Hospice. Visit https://smile.amazon.com.For more information, contact Chris Olds, Development Director, at 319.272.2002.“

The 10th Annual Cedar Valley Hospice Holiday Tour of Homes in

Waverly will take place on Sunday, December 4 from 4-7 p.m.

The 10th anniversary tour will include several special homes decked

out for the holidays, as well as the return of one of the original

homes from 1996. Deb Mummelthei, owner of Love & Lace in

downtown Waverly, is excited to welcome guests to her home

again, now featuring a family room addition. “It was so much fun the

first time!” she says. “It will give me an opportunity to really

go all out and share my home again with others

to benefit the great group of people at

Cedar Valley Hospice and their

important mission.”

It is sure to be a tour you don’t

want to miss. Tickets for the

Holiday Tour of Homes are $8 in advance and $10 at any of the houses on the tour the day

of the event. Tickets may also be purchased in Waverly at Ecker’s Flowers & Greenhouses,

Love & Lace and Meyer Pharmacy as well as at the Waverly and Waterloo Cedar Valley

Hospice offices. The following homes have joined the tour to date:

holiday fundraiser

#1 Dennis & Marcia Haugen208 Augusta Circle

#2 Marge Hibbard415 Third Ave. NE

#3 Larry & Carol Kuecker301 Tumbleweed Trail

Tour of Homes10annual

th

The Grundy Center Soup Salad & Shop fundraising event will be

held on Saturday, November 19 from 10-2 p.m. at the United

Methodist Church, 707 Sixth St. in Grundy Center. Guests can

enjoy lunch and a bake sale, shop a variety of vendors, have the

opportunity to bid on silent auction items and purchase tickets for

one of two great raffles. Tickets for the raffles are available

at the event, from a Cedar Valley Hospice volunteer or at

Cedar Valley Hospice, 310 E. G. Ave. Grundy Center.

Last year, Love & Lace owner Deb Mummelthei helped her daughter, Stephanie Whitcome, prepare

their home for the tour. This year, Deb takes her creative eye to her own home which will be featured.

soup, salad, shop event

A chance to win a:

$100 gift certificate from Triple T Meats in Ackley

OR a $75 Kwik Star gift card.

A beautiful 90” x 100” ZigZag9 quilt is adorned with butterflies and

dragonflies symbolizing strength and new life, lovingly made by former

Cedar Valley Hospice nurse and current volunteer, Kathie Manfull.

#4 Steve & Deb Mummelthei1646 180th St.

#5 Scott & Sherri Niles508 Second St. SW

On July 26, the sun was shining -

perfectly in sync with this year’s

Grief Camp theme: A Day at the Beach.

Kids from around the Cedar Valley

rolled into the UAW Hall in Waterloo

right on time for a day full of activities.

Upon arriving, each child received a

nametag placing them in one of the

six sea animal-named groups and a fun

T-shirt with a special message:

You can’t stop the waves, but you

can learn to surf.

The camp started three years ago by

the Cedar Valley Hospice’s Eucalyptus

Tree program as a way to provide

a fun outlet for children who have

experienced the death of a loved

one to share emotions that don’t

always seem welcome. Theme-related

activities are designed with a specific

goal in mind - to help teach each child

how to learn to live with their loss.

“Activities were based on how children

grieve and mourn differently, whether

they like to write out their feelings,

paint, listen to others and/or music,

or talk about their experiences,” said

Eucalyptus Tree Coordinator Kassidi

Braby. “We have activities that help

them to define the changes in their

lives. We memorialize their loved one,

promoting resilience as they move

forward in their lives. All of these goals

are met in one fun, memorable and

loving day.”

Supported by the Toneff Memorial

Tractorcade, the Grief Camp has

welcomed different and returning

children every year, each leaving with

a different experience. Amy, a parent

who attended the afternoon session for

adults, was so grateful that her daughter

came to the camp.

She said: “I couldn’t have asked for a

better day for Arianna! After attending

the camp, I think now she has a better

understanding that she is not alone out

there. It also felt good that when we

left, her and another girl exchanged

numbers!! It was also therapeutic to

be able to talk about my losses at

the parent meeting. It was a great

experience, and I hope she can go

next year.”

To see more photos, visit our

Facebook page. For more information

on the Eucalyptus Tree program, call

319.272.2002 or visit cvhospice.org.

parents grateful for grief camp for kids

a Day at the Beach

SUMMER GRIEF CAMP

Thanks to the Toneff Memorial Tractorcade for sponsoring this year’s grief camp!

DOROTHY DUFFY - Independence

Dorothy became a volunteer in 2003

because of her love of helping people and

wanting to offer comfort and

companionship to hospice patients.

Dorothy has empathy for her patients and

relates well with their families, too, always

offering a warm smile and a listening ear.

Her positive presence and heart for serving

is felt by those around her.

KAY SCHULTZ - Grundy Center

Kay has been a volunteer since 2006. She

provides companionship and caregiver

respite for patients and families by

extending a helping hand, warm smile,

calming voice and bringing her patients

fresh flowers. She also enjoys helping out

in the office by answering the phone and is

willing to volunteer at any time.

JEAN LANSKE - Waverly

Jean Lanske took the volunteer training

class 30 years ago in 1986 and is still going

strong. She has continued to support others

with her kindness, generosity and expertise

– always with an upbeat attitude. She also

supports our team by helping in our local

parades and anything else thrown her way.

Jean is an honored volunteer of the team

and her dedication is second to none.

SISTER JEANINE KUHNWaterloo - Hospice Home

Sister Jeanine Kuhn came to us with a

mission to serve others as they enter their

final journey. She works at the Cedar Valley

Hospice Home where she greets families

and visitors and shows them to patients’

rooms. She also provides comfort to

worried family members who need

somebody to visit with. She has put in over

424 hours in the last two-and-a-half years.

Her compassion and guidance is unparalleled

as an addition to our volunteer program.

MIKE WALDENWaterloo - Patient/Family

Mike Walden first became a volunteer

with our Friends of Cedar Valley Hospice

Committee in 2009, where he helped raise

money by planning events. He then served

on our Governing Board from 2012-2015.

Meanwhile, as a professional photographer,

he uses his talents to help the organization

document its events and special occasions.

Now, he serves as a patient/family

volunteer. Mike’s respect for the

organization continues to drive him to be

a part of our mission and we value him

greatly for it.

volunteer service spotlightHPCAI honors five volunteers at event

Cedar Valley Hospice nominated five volunteers who were honored by the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of Iowa (HPCAI) at its recognition ceremony on September 23 in Altoona. They include: Dorothy Duffy, Kay Schultz, Jean Lanske, Mike Walden and Sister Jeanne Kuhn.

BELOW: The Cedar Valley Hospice Social Support Group meets monthly for lunch and cards and to discuss how to raise money or awareness for Cedar Valley Hospice. In August, they all brought bags of school supplies to be donated - with others collected from our staff - were given to Cedar Valley Hospice’s Partner In Education, Lou Henry Elementary in Waterloo before the start of the school year. If you’d like to become a Cedar Valley Hospice Volunteer, call Paula Steimel at 319.272.2002.

2101 Kimball Ave., Suite 401 : : PO Box 2880 : : Waterloo, IA 50702 : : 319.272.2002 : : 800.617.1972

Non-profit Organization

US Postage Paid Waterloo, IA

Permit No. 238

calendar of events

Saturday, November 19, 2016Soup, Salad & Shop FundraiserFirst United Methodist Church707 Sixth St., Grundy Center10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sunday, December 4, 2016Tree of Love Ceremony - WaterlooWaterloo Center for the Arts225 Commercial St.1:30 - 3 p.m.

Sunday, December 4, 2016Tour of HomesWaverly area4 - 7 p.m.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016Tree of Love Ceremony - WaverlyWaverly Civic Center200 First St. NE6:45 - 8 p.m.

Thursday, December 8, 2016Tree of Love Ceremony - IndependencePrairie Hills Assisted Living505 Enterprise Dr.6:30 - 8 p.m.

Sunday, December 11, 2016Tree of Love Ceremony - Grundy CenterArlington Place Assisted Living95 D Ave.2 - 3:30 p.m.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming Cedar Valley Hospice fundraising events.You can also stay up to date by visiting cvhospice.org or Facebook.

If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, please call 319.272.2002,

toll free at 800.617.1972 or email us at cedarvalleyhospice@cvhospice.org.