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Hospice Austin’s Blog
Reel Change for Real Change
Hospice Austin was recently chosen to participate in the Reel Change Film Frenzy, a project sponsored by the nonprofit Lights, Camera, Help whose mission is to help area nonprofits by making mission-driven films that tell their story. Hospice Austin was selected by filmmaker Don Nguyen of ILC Films. Don highlighted the work of nurse practitioner Brian King, who has worked at Hospice Austin for 16 years. To watch the video, please click on the link.
Making life better for us all
Hospice Austin’s Christopher House volunteer Gretchen Baker has turned heartache into a passion for helping others near the end of life. Not only does she volunteer at Christopher House twice a week, she’s provided a Thanksgiving Day meal for patients and staff for the past 10 years, organizes an annual Valentine stuffed animal drive, donates prayer shawls from her friends, and does countless other services that let our patients and families know she understands what they’re going through. Here is her story, in her words.
Finding My Way Back
Today is the day that Keaton died in 2001, just before his 4th birthday. November 23rd: it’s a different experience each year. Sometimes it falls on Thanksgiving, as it was that night. The emotional experience varies each year as well. That it has become easier over...
The StoryCorps Legacy
StoryCorps approached Hospice Austin last fall to see if we would participate in their Legacy Project, which records stories of people whose lives have been affected by serious illness. Our youngest storyteller was 10 years old; our oldest was 101. We recorded a story about the founding of Hospice Austin; we recorded the story of a patient who lives under a bridge. We recorded many, many stories of staff and volunteers whose lives have been touched deeply by Hospice Austin.
The Legacy of Carol Kiehl
Nurse Carol Kiehl left an indelible stamp on Hospice Austin. She was a force of nature, a whirlwind of energy and caring. She worked for Hospice Austin for over 10 years, caring for countless patients and mentoring countless staff. We lost her to cancer early this...
The Conversation Project
Three months before Ellen Goodman’s father died, they didn’t talk about his recently-returned cancer. Instead, Ellen’s mother bought him a suitcase for his birthday.
Feeding body and spirit
We recently sent out a plea to staff, volunteers, and our friends on Facebook to replenish our food pantry. The Facebook post was shared by 115 of you, and seen by more 8,500 people. The results have been astounding. This is the email we received from Nancy McCranie, Hospice Austin’s Director of Volunteer and Bereavement Services:
A Letter to Doctors
Thank you for the excellent care you have given me. I also appreciate your honesty in letting me know when I had reached a point in my disease where you could no longer make things better. You could have waited until I had only a few weeks – or even days – left before giving me this news, but you didn’t.
Committed Volunteers Create “A Venetian Affair”
What’s better than hosting a great party? Hosting a great party for a great cause. A small, committed group of women helped produce Hospice Austin’s Vino y Virtuosos party for many years. Now the group has banded back together and is hosting a new event: A Venetian Affair. The Venetian-style party will be held on Thursday, June 4th at the Caswell House on West Avenue from 6:30 – 9:00 pm. Guests will enjoy musicians, magicians, and minstrels strolling through the various rooms of the beautiful old house and experience the revelry of this tradition that stems from the 18th century in Venice. Food, wine, and a silent auction will add to the fun. All proceeds will benefit Hospice Austin.
Caring for Veterans
As a We Honor Veterans partner, Hospice Austin has implemented ongoing veteran-centered education for staff and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to veterans.
