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Buzzy’s Burgers Marks 200th Wish

Thursday, June 30, 2016

If you ask Helen “Buzzy” Burris what one of her final wishes would be, the fun-loving mother will reply with a smirk, “Tall, dark and handsome.” Her response reveals some of the spirited banter she shares with the people in her life. Even upon entering hospice care, she has maintained her same fun-loving character and […]

Spiritual Care in Hospice

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Physical comfort is often the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of hospice care. However, Memorial Hospice comprises a team of care providers across disciplines, including spiritual, to help patients and their families navigate their difficult situation and to care for the patient as a whole person. “We try to join the patient […]

10 Life Lessons Learned from Hospice Patients

Friday, April 1, 2016

Each day spent caring for people who are living their last moments or taking their last breaths might seem like a difficult job. But for Memorial Home Hospice caregivers, the rewards are countless. When the end of life is near, the unimportant falls away and a reminder of what it means to really live rises […]

Hospice Wishes Create Lasting Memories

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

An Elvis fan wishing to visit Graceland. A 63-year-old man wishing for a laptop to complete his family tree. A mother and grandmother wishing to have a pizza party for more than 30 relatives. An avid car lover wishing to ride around Lake Springfield in a Cadillac. Thanks to Memorial’s Sharing Wishes Fund, administered through […]

The 5 Most Memorable ‘Sharing Wishes’ Wishes – So Far

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Since its establishment in 2012, the Sharing Wishes Fund has made a significant impact in the lives of many hospice patients and families in central Illinois. Whether it is a special family-and-friends gathering or a visit from a distant loved one, the wishes Sharing Wishes that help providing a meaningful touch to the hospice experience […]

Get a Leg Up on Swollen and Achy Legs, Feet and Ankles

Friday, October 3, 2014

You get home from work. You drop your bag and finally sit down on the couch after having been on your feet all day. To rest feels good, but your legs do not. They are aching and your feet look swollen. Does this sound familiar? Many jobs in the workplace require a fair amount of […]

Snoring: Serious or Merely Annoying?

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

“Laugh and the world laughs with you; snore and you sleep alone,” said British novelist Anthony Burgess, who may or may not have been speaking from experience. Lori Valentine, RN, respiratory therapist and director of Memorial’s Home Services Durable Medical Equipment, explains that snoring is caused by a collapse of the upper airway, which can […]

To Hospice Patients, Granting a Simple Wish Can Bring Great Joy

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Wiley Moore had a simple wish – to go to Red Lobster for dinner. Unfortunately, Wiley was bedbound because of stage 4 cancer that had spread to his spine and brain. Leaving his home was not possible. But, thanks to the Sharing Wishes Fund, he did get to enjoy a meal from Red Lobster earlier this […]

Could Hospice Volunteering Be Right for You?

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Ask Rachel Grunder what she finds most rewarding about her volunteer work with hospice, she’ll tell you it’s “simply the relationships.” “Each one is unique, this is true. But, at the same time, each one seems to be threaded with appreciation and gratitude. I have volunteered for many different organizations over the years. Hospice patients […]

Sharing Wishes Grants Hospice Patient’s Wish for a “Girls’ Day Out”

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Girls just want to have fun, and Dorothy Ferrara is no exception. Dorothy, a patient of Memorial Home Services Hospice, had mentioned to several staff members that she wanted to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. When Kelsi Dobson, medical social worker, visited with her, Dorothy made a minor addition to her already […]