Flu vaccinations are a hot topic this year. Yesterday I found this story British Columbia suspends flu shot campaign over H1N1 concerns. The decision was announced Monday morning by provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall, who characterized this
Hi to all my ZHP Volunteer Friends:
I was a volunteer at the Guest House for almost 8 years. I recently read Stan Goldberg's new book published by Shambala, Lessons for the Living: Stories of Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Courage at the End of Life, w
NHPCO Healthcare Reform Resolution
WHEREAS, hospice and palliative care providers across the nation are unified by a common mission to provide the highest quality end-of-life care to relieve suffering and to support patients and families facing seri
Resources for Hospice Volunteer ManagersHVA created the National Hospice Document Repository (NHDR) as a public service to the hospice community and the general public. This repository is the largest free-access collection of documents and articles
This poem I Am So Vast was included in a memorial service for a resident I served at the Zen Hospice Project Guest House, a residential hospice facility in San Francisco. Nancy died October 5, 2000 at 3pm. She planned out her entire service so the fa
The harp is an instrument that is welcomed anywhere because of its calming nature. It is rare that I play anywhere that I don't put someone to sleep within 10 minutes of starting to play. For the hospice volunteer, having a harp to bring with you whe
Department of HHS finally puts teeth into HIPAA enforcement
Providence Health & Services, a Seattle-based non-profit health system, has the uncomfortable distinction of being the first organization penalized for violating the privacy section of the f
There is a topic that seems to be coming up more often these days. It relates to what a volunteer can and cannot do. There is a growing trend that is troubling. Last week a volunteer coordinator posed the following question to other volunteer coordin
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines Art Therapy as:
A mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based
Every once in a while a book appears that is so special, it is destined not just to be read but to be cherished, to be passed from one reader to another as a precious gift. Filled with wisdom and grace, Hannah's Gift is one such book. Within its page
The Department of Health & Human Services released the final ruling on the new Medicare Conditions of Participation for Hospice. None of these changes to the CoPs directly affected hospice volunteers with the exception of stipulating that volunteers
HVA Members:
The Spring 2008 issue of the Hospice Volunteer News quarterly magazine is now available online!!
We have a new column starting with this issue on Strategic Volunteer Management, written by Gary Gardia, M.Ed., LCSW, CT, who is an HVA Mem
This poem was written as I was just completing my first six months as a volunteer at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco. I was asked to write a poem or story for the semi-annual newsletter reflecting on thoughts of my experience at their 5-bed
I just made a journal entry in the Hospice Volunteer Journal group relating to a ZHP experience I had as a volunteer at the Guest House. There is also an associated poem titled "I Am So Vast" in the Poetry & Quotes group.
All things
Are too small
To hold me,
I am so vast
In the Infinite
I reach
For the Uncreated
I have
Touched it,
It undoes me
Wider than wide
Everything else
Is too narrow
You know this well,
You who are also there.
Hadewijch
13th centuryFrom WRead more…
I was expecting to start a discussion with an entry from my personal volunteer journal. Instead of entering it by clicking on "Start A New Discussion" I entered it as a comment. So please view the comments titled An Unanticipated End-Of-Life Vigil.
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