Press Releases

Terry G. Stone
Community Outreach
(321) 269-4240
(321) 269-5428-fax
outreach@hospiceofstfrancis.com

THIRD ANNUAL “FALL SENIOR HEALTH FAIR”

Titusville, FL – North Brevard Association of Health Services (NBAMS) will be hosting its third annual “Fall Senior Health Fair” on Thursday, October 21, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Hospice of St. Francis located at 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville 32780 (corner of SR405 and Grissom Parkway). Admission is free, parking is free and the public is welcome to attend.

This free event presents a wide array of services and products with more than 30 senior-focused vendors providing free health screenings, information and giveaways. Each attendee registered at the health fair will enjoy a free continental breakfast, entertainment, meeting pet therapy animals and will be eligible for a chance to win one of many door prizes. For additional information on the health fair and its offerings, please call 321-890-7693.

North Brevard Association of Health Services is a networking organization of professionals in the health services industry, which meets monthly and focuses on education and networking. It was established in an effort to increase awareness of north county community providers, thereby improving services available to the community.

HOSPICE EMPLOYEE HONORED FOR TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE

BREVARD COUNTY, FL – Hospice of St. Francis recognized Pat Rouse for 20 years of service by presenting her with an Employee Service Award, at a recent company meeting. Pat celebrated her 20th anniversary with Hospice of St. Francis on July 1, 2010. She was hired as the first Home Health Aide/Certified Nursing Assistant when Hospice of St. Francis transitioned to an organization with paid employees. The year was 1990, and Hospice of St. Francis' office was in one room of a building in downtown Titusville.

Currently, Pat holds the position of DME/Supply Coordinator. She stays very busy maintaining the inventory of medical supplies, ordering durable medical equipment for patients and staffing for crisis care.

Recently, Pat reflected back on her career by saying, “My hospice career has been a fabulous journey. I love what I do, and I am learning something new all the time. It has been exciting for me to be a member of such a top notch staff and to watch Hospice of St. Francis grow. Bruce Wolters, Executive Director, and our Board of Directors have been terrific leaders guiding us through our growth to become the organization we are today. Time has gone so fast, but I still have the dream of seeing a hospice house with Hospice of St. Francis on the sign.”

“Pat has been an invaluable employee for many years,” commented Bruce Wolters, Executive Director. “We are thankful for her dedication to caring for our patients and her loyalty to our organization.”

Hospice of St. Francis began operating in 1977 as a totally volunteer run organization. In 1990, Hospice of St. Francis applied for and received its State of Florida license to operate in Brevard County as a 501 (c) 3 hospice organization. In addition to providing hospice services to patients, other programs include--North Star, child grief support program; Adult Bereavement Program; Partners in Compassionate Care, volunteer training and assignment program; Caregiver Education and Resource Program and Pet Therapy Program. These programs are available to any Brevard County resident free of charge.

For more information on our hospice services and programs, please call 321-269-4240, toll free 866-269-4240 or visit our website at www.hospiceofstfrancis.com.

Brevard’s Senior Health Experts Present Healing Arts Symposium

Melbourne, FL--- Buena Vida Estates, Hospice of St. Francis, Cancer Care Centers of Brevard and WellCare are hosting The Healing Arts Symposium. The second of a series of senior wellness events, The Healing Arts Symposium will be held in the Rotunda and Studio Theatre at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts located at 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This informative event is free to the public and healthcare professionals and includes the latest information on senior health and wellness issues. Event speakers, who are experts in their field, will be available for questions and answers following their presentations.

Discussions include:
“Can CyberKnife Treat Your Cancer?” by Ravi Shankar, MD, Board Certified Radiation Oncologist with Cancer Care Centers of Brevard.

“Balance for Life” by Christy Tagye, OTR/L, Rehab Specialty Director with Amedisys Home Health.

“The Healing Power of Music” by Dale Olsen, Harpist with Hospice of St. Francis.

“The Importance of Socialization” by Don Spalding, Gerontologist and Executive Director with Buena Vida Estates.

The symposium will include senior service exhibits with professional representatives available to answer your questions and share the latest information and trends in senior services. A representative from the Veterans Administration will be available to discuss your “V.A. Benefits”.

Attendees will enjoy complimentary refreshments, musical performances by Dale Olsen, Harpist, and entertainment by area dance groups. For additional information, please call Buena Vida Estates at 321-724-0060.

FREE CAREGIVER EDUCATION CLASSES AT UNITY CHURCH

Caring for another person is often one of the most demanding experiences a person may face in their lifetime. The Caregiving Education and Resource Program at Hospice of St. Francis provides the education necessary to “care for the caregiver” – both current and future. At some point in our lives, we will most likely be the caregiver for someone….or be cared for ourselves by another.

The training program consists of six-90 minute classes. All classes were developed nationally in response to the issues caregivers themselves identified. Hospice of St. Francis’ programs and training classes are offered at no cost to Brevard County resident.

Each class focuses on a different caregiver issue:

Class 1: The Experience of Caregiving – What is our commonality?
Class 2: Important Decisions and Communication - How do we make and whom do we tell about our Advance Directives?
Class 3: Community and Personal Relationships – Are we as alone as we think?
Class 4: Care of Self with Care of Others – How can we do both?
Class 5: Meaning, Purpose and Finality of Life – What needs to be done at life’s end, and what does death look like.
Class 6: Grief and Bereavement – What’s normal, and how do we know?

The next series of Caregiver Education and Resource Program classes will be held at Unity Church on the Space Coast, 2000 South Street, Titusville 32780 from 1 p.m. - 2:30 pm beginning Thursday July 15, 2010, continuing Mondays and Thursdays, and ending on Monday, August 2, 2010.

To register or for more information, please contact Barbara Borman, RN. Ms. Borman can be reached at 321-269-4240 x330 or e-mail her at caregiving@hospiceofstfrancis.com.