Katy Sweeny — Staff reporter
LAKE COUNTY — For 30 years, Hospice Services of Lake County has provided care for dying patients and their families.
“It can save your mind,” said Jan Parkinson, who is on the Hospice Board of Directors and is the chair of the events committee.
Hospice provides nursing, caregivers, pain management, spiritual advisers, counseling for the family and “anything the patient needs,” Parkinson said.
Hospice Services of Lake County celebrates its 30th anniversary Saturday, although it doesn”t have a planned event, said Clara Dykema, finance director for the organization. The service is asking community members to participate in its $30 for 30 program, asking people to donate $1 for every year hospice has been serving the community.
Parkinson said she got involved three or four years ago.
“I just love what they do, not only for the people who are very, very ill, but to the family with bereavement services,” Parkinson said. “It”s a whole family of services they provide.”
Parkinson said spiritual advisers “help them to get ready to die” and bereavement counseling “helps the family resume their life.”
“It”s not a death sentence,” she said. “It”s a way to die in a way more like being born.”
The service helps about 30 patients a month and could serve more, Parkinson said.
She said hospice wouldn”t be available without community-wide fundraisers because the service doesn”t receive much government support.
“The return you get for helping people is far greater than the dollar amount,” Parkinson said. “It may help hospice stay sustainable.”
Dykema said she started working with hospice in December 2007.
“This organization has been able to provide services only due to the support of the community, to be a stand-alone organization where we provide awesome services to people at the end of life,” Dykema said.
Dana Kearney, vice president of the board, said she got involved with hospice about four years ago because she believes in the program, which allows people to die with dignity.
“Their main goal is patient care,” Kearney said.
Hospice staff also works for less pay because they believe in what they”re doing, Kearney said.
Anyone who wants to find out if someone is eligible for hospice care can call the office at 263-6222 for help. People interested in volunteering, even for office work, or making a donation can also call the office.
“You never know when it”s going to touch your life,” she said.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
