Night Out gives Hospice a chance to celebrate

Hospice of Mat-Su's Night Out for Hospice earlier this month raised a fair amount of money for the program but, what's more, about 80 people had a chance to hear about the program's successes over the past year.

"We made approximately $3,000 on the auction," said Pat Karella, bereavement coordinator for Hospice of Mat-Su, "but fund-raising is not the primary purpose of this event -- the primary purpose is community education and community involvement."

According to information from Hospice of Mat-Su, the group got its start in the 1980s and was originally staffed by volunteers who helped provide respite care and assistance to families and individuals dealing with terminal illness. By 1990, Valley Hospital agreed to make the service part of its home health program and, in 1993, the group was Medicare-certified. The program now operates with funding from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies, but Karella said no patient is turned away because they have no money to pay.

This year's Night Out for Hospice was a chance for staff to recognize the efforts made by volunteers and those who helped organize the program, as well as a chance to celebrate the lives that were touched as a result of the program.

"Hospice is about love, and life, and laughter," said Doctor David Mayschak, the program's medical director. And, he said, the Night Out event, held at the Palmer Elks Lodge on Finger Lake, gives people a chance to hear from a few of the families whose loved ones were involved in the program.

"Our hospice nurses are so good at helping patients become comfortable, to free them up from the symptoms that make dying worse, it frees them up to spend time with their family," said Karella. Karella said she'd like to see more people attend the event, so they can understand what hospice is about. "The things we tell the public we do, aren't first-hand."

Karella cited an example of a hospice worker who found someone to come in during the afternoons and play flute for a hospice patient -- an afternoon treat the patient looked forward to.

"We try to meet, not only the medical needs of the patient, but also the spiritual and emotional needs," Karella said. And, sometimes caring for the patient allows the typical caregiver a much-needed break. "Caring for someone full-time is a very exhausting thing."

Although the Night Out event recognizes the families whose loved ones have passed away while in Hospice, volunteer Sharon Seagondollar said it's not a solemn event.

"When we get together for Night Out for Hospice, it's a real celebration of life, in my opinion," Seagondollar said. "The dinner is a lot of fun, and it's so nice to hear from the families we take care of."

Several local and area businesses donated time and goods to be auctioned off at the hospice event, which helped the group raise operational funding. Valley Quilter's Guild, which regularly makes lap blankets for hospice patients, made a large quilt to be auctioned off. The quilt, along with home decor items from Bailey's Furniture, The Gallery, All I Saw Cookware, Tree Forms of Alaska and Colony Curiosities and General Store, provided a wide assortment of items for attendees to bid on at the event. Karella said local radio station, KMBQ, also provided items for auction and public service announcements about the event, and radio owner John Klapperich even emceed the evening's events.

The Night Out for Hospice dinner is held each spring, and is one of three primary events held by the group throughout the year. Christmas shoppers may be familiar with the Hospice Light Up a Life trees of remembrance that stand at Cottonwood Creek Plaza and at the Koslosky Building in Palmer, where people can purchase an angel or a star in honor of a loved one who has passed away. As the Christmas season draws to a close, Hospice holds a Gathering of Remembrance yearly at Palmer Depot, where the names from the stars and angels are read and people can remember and celebrate friends and loved ones.

The money raised will help hospice continue providing care for patients facing terminal illnesses, and may help them toward their future goal of building a Hospice House, a place where patients can have 24-hour care, and the transition between hospital and home will be smoother.

Karella and Mayschak said Hospice is always looking for volunteers. For more information about Hospice or to volunteer, contact Hospice at 352-4800.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.