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Hospice Austin’s Blog
End of the Year Charitable Giving
Recently we have received inquiries about tax-smart ways to support Hospice Austin. With the end of the tax year approaching, we wanted to share some strategies that can help you maximize the tax benefits of your charitable giving.
Honoring Michelle by Helping Others
About six months after he lost his 47-year-old wife to cancer, John McDonald received a notice in the mail that Hospice Austin was starting The GIFT Project to educate both the community and the medical profession about the importance of advance directives. The GIFT Project – Giving Instructions for Tomorrow – provides free information sessions to congregations, civic groups, businesses and the medical community to help people think about what they want might at the end of their lives, discuss those wishes with loved ones and complete advance directives.
The Monastery of Monte Siesta
I met my friend, Michelle, almost two years ago shortly after she had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Michelle’s childhood was scarred with unreliable, abusive adults and, not surprisingly, the early part of her own adulthood was riddled with addiction and a repetition of old patterns that didn’t serve her well. But she persevered and eventually found her way into recovery and into a life-giving spiritual community. When we met, she was living independently in her own place.
Fall Bereavement Calendar
Anyone grieving the death of a loved one is welcome to join us at our Fall bereavement happenings including our Fall Day of Renewal in Georgetown, Healing Grief Holistically Support Group, Surviving the Holidays, online support and more.
Celebrating 25 Years as Executive Director
Under Marjorie Mulanax’s leadership, Hospice Austin has grown from serving 300 patients a year to serving nearly 400 patients a day. Much of the reason for Hospice Austin’s success can be attributed to Marjorie’s vision and her supportive and steady leadership.
Replenishing Ourselves While Caring for Others
While providing hospice care is a privilege for our staff, it is often heart-wrenching work which can lead to burn-out if we don’t take steps to replenish ourselves while honoring our patients.
Recognizing Nurses Best in Class Awards
Hospice Austin nurses Patricia Smith and Emma Perry were honored at the Austin American-Statesman’s Third Annual Recognizing Nurses Best in Class Awards Gala in the Hospice/Home Health category. The Statesman’s Recognizing Nurses celebration commemorates the Austin metro area’s exceptional local nurses and the work they do, day in and day out.
The Country Nurse
She’s known as “the country nurse.” Jacque Shroyer, who drives about 500 miles a week, visits patients in Cedar Creek, San Marcos, Kyle and Buda and all spots in between. “My jeep has 182,000 miles on it and I got it brand new five years ago,” she says with a chuckle.
Paying Homage
I showed up for my afternoon shift at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House where my mother-in-law died more than 15 years ago. The walkway is made of bricks. Many of them contain names and life dates of people who had died at the hospice. Recent rains had caused dirt, leaves, and crushed granite to wash out of the shrubbery beds and onto the walkway.I decided to sweep the bricks as a prelude to visiting patients. It was a service to the dead, not to the living, grieving, and suffering people I would later visit.
The Depths of Eternity
One of my most memorable experiences was when I provided 11th-hour relief for a young man in his 20’s with brain cancer. Each time he would cough, his head would become very red in color and he would be in obvious distress.
