National Hospice Month Events

National Hospice Month is arriving in November and already it feels like a birth announcement.

Yes, I am having labor pains.

Without a coach to tell me to breathe, we are giving birth to a full calendar of events for the upcoming month and you are all invited to the celebrations.

Here's the list as it stands today and I will update you if there are any "complications".

Unlike a regular birth, all these events are free with the exception of the "Cooking for One" class which is only $2 and you get a meal for that (Wow!). Hope to see you there!

October 30th 10a - 2p: Young Harris, Legacy Link Health Fair

November 1st: Informational tables will be set up at the Rabun County Library, Towns County Library, Branan Lodge in Blairsville, Brasstown Manor in Hiawassee.

November 2nd: 5 Wishes (advanced directives) presentation at Mountain Lakes Hospital in Clayton from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the cafeteria.

November 7th: Coffee Talk on Sky 104.1 at 9 a.m. - Regency Hospice staff interview.

November 8th: 4 p.m interview with Dr. Guy Gober regarding his upcoming veterans presentation on North Georgia Community Resources (www.talkshoe.com/tc/44351). You can call in with questions to Dr. Gober by calling 1-724-444-7444 and when asked for the show ID enter 44351. Or feel free to download the show or listen online.

November 12th: "Cooking for One" at Mountain Lakes Hospital from 11am until 1 pm. Come by and get a meal for $2 and receive information about cooking nutritious meals when you are cooking for one. Please bring a loved ones favorite recipe to share and donate the recipe for future cooking for one classes. Chef Will Smith will prepare the meal and provide instructions on turning that casserole your neighbor brought over last night into a nutritious meal for you tonight.

November 14th: Open House at Regency Hospice in Hiawassee from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Door prizes will be drawn at 2 p.m. You do not have to be present to win, but you have to come by to register. We are located across the street from Dairy Queen in the upper level. There will be some great door prizes, time to meet our staff and lots of information about how hospice can help you before a crises occurs.

November 15th: Union County Chamber of Commerce Breaksfast "5 Wishes for Employers - Community Resources as a Human Resource Benefit"

November 27th: Clayton Housing Authority Inservice about living wills scheduled at the Dunlap apartments at 9 a.m. and at the Brookslane apartments at 10 a.m.

November 28th: 5 Wishes at Riverstone Medical Campus in Blue Ridge at 2 p.m. in the 2nd floor conference room.

We have several inservices being presented to our hospitals and doctor's offices. If you would like to schedule a presentation for your church, club or business call me soon before the calendar is completely filled.

Festivals and Health Fairs

October is a month to relax and enjoy a pure blue sky and breathe in the colors, sights and sounds of autumn.

While many people find sadness in this season, I have always found that as the leaves turn I feel renewed. I am reminded that their is much beauty at the end and that the journey to this point has been full of life. I also feel like buying new clothes because of the old habit of the new school year shopping sprees from my youth. The feeling of a new school year always brought anxiety over the unknown. Unknown teachers, classes, changes in last year's classmates. Somehow fall continues to feel that way to me. A certain anxiety sweeps over me as I wonder what is in the future. An equal portion of serenity falls over me as I reflect on the path that has led me to today. I suppose it is the balance that counts as advantageous to living fully.

October is filled with yard sales, concerts, health fairs and festivals. Yes even hospice participates in these events because we believe in celebrating life.

Today I attended the Brasstown Manor Assisted Living "Senior Enrichment Day". There was not a great many in attendance but I looked at the community as I left the event and noticed that everyone seemed to have an event taking place. I don't feel badly that my information was not seen by the majority of the population. Actually with the activity noted all around me, I feel pretty lucky to have spent time with old friends and be introduced to new ones. One new friend, a new set of clothes, anxiety, serenity, anticipation, and beauty everywhere in the colors of the mountains - now if I can only find my teacher!

Join us Monday at 3:30 p.m. on North Georgia Community Resources as we interview some of the people involved in the Union County Interagency Group as we discuss the upcoming festival in Blairsville, Ga on October 20th, 2007.

Tying up loose ends

Today on North Georgia Community Resources, Robin Watts with Regency Hospice speaks about the RAK Club (Random Acts of Kindness Club).

It is a very short segment lasting less than 10 minutes.

I will explain the RAK Club and the latest need for hospice patients.

Hint: We are looking for donations of new twin sheets for the hospital beds that the patients are getting in their home.