Open House, Training and More set for High Country Hospice

By Allison Canter

High Country Hospice is a gem in the mountains of North Carolina, offering services and care that many have been or will be in need of during their lifetime.

Hospice, officially known as High Country Health Care System Home Health & Hospice, explains it all in their mission statement. It reads, "Hospice strives to serve our mountain communities with the highest quality of care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The goal of our Interdisciplinary Team is to bring comfort, dignity and unparalleled support to patients and their caregivers. We honor the traditions and values of those we serve, always striving to assist patients and their families to celebrate life to its fullest.

"Hospice is busy planning events to help the community, such as an open house in Ashe County, Camp Sunshine for children and our spring volunteer trainings," said Candace Cook of the marketing team for High Country Hospice. "We are also planning events that will raise money for Hospice patient services such as a spring quilt raffle and Easter butterfly ornament sale at local churches in Ashe County." There will also be an open house at the Alleghany County High Country Hospice this spring.

On Thursday, March 25, the High Country Hospice Open House will be held at the Ashe County office, located at 392 NC Hwy. 88 East in Jefferson. Cook said the open house will be a time for the community to come to the office and learn about Hospice services. The open house is tentatively set to run from 9 a.m. until noon.

Hospice is also planning Spring Volunteer Trainings for April in Ashe and Alleghany counties. The training teaches volunteers about the different aspects of Hospice and prepares them for the different roles they may take as volunteers. "Volunteers are needed to make home visits, help in the office and with fundraising events and provide respite for caregivers," said Cook.

The Ashe County training is set for April 7, 9, 14 and 16 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ashe Hospice Office. The Alleghany training will be held April 21, 23, 28 and 30 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Alleghany office.

To sign up for the volunteer training, contact Volunteer Coordinator Jennifer Richardson by coming to the open house on March 25 or calling (336) 246-6443 if you live in Ashe County or (336) 372-8018 if you live in Alleghany.

The Hospice website, highcountryhospice.org, also offers information on ways to volunteer, an application that can be downloaded and e-mail for the volunteer coordinator.

Volunteer training takes 12 hours. Cook said all volunteers except those wanting to help with fundraising are required to complete the training.

Community members that want to help with raising funds for patient care can join the High Country Hospice Council which creates, plans and implements fundraisers, finds new ways of promoting Hospice and recruits volunteers.

The next Hospice council meeting is March 25 at 2 p.m. in Ashe County at the High Country Health Care System Ashe Home Health office, located across from the entrance to Jefferson Landing, and March 26 at 10 a.m. in Alleghany County at the Alleghany office, located at 81-A West Doughton Street in Sparta.

For more information on the Council, contact Cook at ccook@hchealth.net or at (828) 265-9443.

According to Cook, the Alleghany Hospice office underwent major renovations this winter that included new offices and a conference area for the bereavement and volunteer coordinators. The renovations, which will be revealed at the open house, were made possible by funding from the Helen Fussell estate as requested by persons responsible for the estate donations, Cook said.

Another event Hospice hosts is Camp Sunshine, a day camp for children between the ages of 5-12 who are grieving due to the death of a family member or other loved one. The camp is offered to any child who has experienced a loss not only those who's loved one was a Hospice patient.

Camp Sunshine will be held June 15-17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Alleghany County at the Sparta Lions Club. In Ashe County, it will be held from June 22-24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Westwood Elementary.

Cook said the camp is focused on helping children learn about their grief with specific activities designed to facilitate this process. The camp is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration forms are available on the website or by contacting your county Hospice office. To sign up, contact Jennifer Johnson in Ashe County at (336) 246-6443 or Mary Lee in Alleghany County at (336) 372-8018.

In other areas of Hospice, community members can support the organization by sending donations or by donating items on the patient wish list which includes baby wipes, powder, body wash, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste and Ensure.

Hospice is a non-profit organization. Their services include registered nurses available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, every day of the year, clinical social workers, certified nursing assistants, spiritual support, bereavement support, volunteer support, medications related to terminal illness, standard medical equipment and other services as needed.

"All of us at High Country Health Care System would like to thank the community for their continuing support of our work to help the terminally ill and their families," said Cook.