Celebrating Volunteers

Circle of Life is celebrating our amazing volunteers this week during National Volunteer Week!  We are blessed with over 140 volunteers who give selflessly of their time to support the work we do.  Nationally, there are an estimated 458,000 hospice volunteers providing more than 21 million hours of service.  Wow!  

Did you know that it is federally mandated, under Medicare, that five percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers? This requirement underscores the important role that hospice volunteers play in caring for the dying and their family caregivers.  

At Circle of Life, we believe our volunteers are the heart of hospice.  After all, hospice began in this country just a little over 30 years ago as a largely, volunteer-driven community movement. 

I encourage you to take some time this week and join me in celebrating the work of volunteers.  They truly make a difference for all in Northwest Arkansas and for that I am very grateful.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

National Healthcare Decisions Day

Spring is definitely in the air and who doesn't love spring? (okay, I realize if you have trouble with allergies you may not) First the daffodils begin to bloom, followed closely by the red buds, forsythia and then YES the dogwoods!  A sequence that is as predictable as birth, life, and death.  The difference  being we don't always know the timing of the latter - death.

That's why I believe it is so important to live life with our heads "above the sand" -- recognizing each day and all the beauty that nature brings as a gift and that one day all of us will face our transition into afterlife.  Not necessarily a topic for the dinner table or is it?  I propose it is or should be anyway .  April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day. A day set aside to talk about this very subject with those close to you.  Join me in advocating for NATIONAL HEALTHCARE Decisions Day and plan for ALL of your days. 

Click on the link to learn more about this event and please share it with those you love.  I'm tempted to mention the classic seat belt commercial of the 70's -- oh, what the heck -- if you love them "buckle up" . . . if you love them, share this link as it's JUST THAT IMPORTANT!

As always, let me know how we at Circle of Life can help you with you and your loved ones planning -- we are a hospice but we are as much about living as we are dying!

I am Hospice, Mary