November 13, 2011

Blue Skies Bereavement Group Invitation

The following is a message from the Blue Skies staff inviting anyone in need to attend meetings of the Blue Skies Bereavement Support Group. Arlene Bakota, a Registered Nurse and Bereavement Coordinator, facilitates each meeting. Below are the details

Where: 2714 169th Street, Hammond, IN 46323

When: Saturday, January 28th, 2012
            Saturday, February 25th
            Saturday, March 31st
            Saturday, April 28th
            Saturday, May 26th
            Saturday, June 30th
            Saturday, July 28th
            Saturday, August 2th
            Saturday, September 29th
            Saturday, October 27th
            Saturday, November 17th
            Saturday, December 15h

Time: 2:30pm

We believe this meeting will be beneficial for both those who have experienced the loss of a loved one and for those who are currently a patient or friends and family of patients still within hospice. We hope that you will make plans to join Blue Skies Hospice as we seek to provide overall care for our patients and their friends and families.

Please RSVP to (219) 554-0688

November 2, 2011

Re-Imagine The End of Life with Hospice

Thomas Patrick Donovan, the community liason for Rocky Mountain Hospice in Bozeman, Montana, addresses the question, "Does choosing hospice mean giving up?" in a beautifully written essay for the Helena Independent Record:

"To hold fast to the belief that choosing hospice means admitting that one has failed is, in truth, a failure of our ability to imagine the end of life being anything other than a hard, possibly painful, winter that we have to suffer through. Perhaps it is time to re-imagine the end of life: rather than giving up, hospice is the successful embrace of community, a way of being there for each other. Hospice offers the caring arms of hospitality to patient, family, and friends and, as a result, creates a way to meet the winter of life that has comfort and dignity at its foundation."

Read more: http://helenair.com/news/opinion/does-choosing-hospice-mean-giving-up/article_9107977a-0518-11e1-8069-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1cbjKJGMR

October 23, 2011

Blue Skies Attends Hammond Mayor's Volunteer Luncheon

Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. held the 25th annual volunteer luncheon on October 19th. Blue Skies Hospice volunteer coordinator Pearl Masciotra and chaplain Buddie Fennie attended the luncheon. Blue Skies was one of the participating organizations, providing information about their services to attendees of the event.

Blue Skies Volunteer Coordinator, Pearl Masciotra, and Blues Skies Chaplain, Buddie Fennie

Hammond Police began the ceremony

Mayor McDermott spoke about the importance of volunteerism and communal involvement.


October 17, 2011

X Factor Finalists and Simon Cowell Collaborate for Children's Hospice

All proceeds from the new single by X Factor finalists will benefit an England Children's Hospice called Claire House.

Simon Cowell, who has worked with Claire House for several years, said in the press release announcing the single, "Having worked close hand with this charity and seeing the amazing work they do for kids and their families who need help and support, I am thrilled that the X Factor charity single this year will benefit this charity."

"Wishing On a Star," the new single, will be available for download on November 20th.

The effort to assist the British hospice is a testament to the power and importance of hospice care. Please show your support by downloading the single. If you or anyone you know is in need of the kind of services Claire House provides in this area, please contact Blue Skies Hospice.

October 5, 2011

Blue Skies Fall Dessert Day

On October 5th Blue Skies Hospice held a fall dessert day and raffle at Regency Place of Dyer. Regency staff enjoyed desserts, and the raffle winners, Sue Frank, Jose Qma, Alisha Clay, and Amber Mender, took home beautiful fall mums.


September 20, 2011

Mourning Father Starts Hospice After Infant Son's Death

Hospice care, for patients, families, and workers alike, is a healing process that helps people overcome the pain that results from the death of a loved one, and work through the grief that follows that death. Typically, hospice care enters a person life at a seemingly natural period when the dying patient is in her elderly years.

Utah man, Derek Sorenson, however, made the decision, with the child's mother, to put his son in hospice care hours after he was born. Deyton, the baby boy, was born with a fatal heart condition and died after only six days. Sorenson worked for a hospice organization at the time, but the death of his son inspired him to start his own hospice organization, Dixie Hospice Care.

Sorenson says that "helping other people helps me heal." Read more of his inspiring story here: Infant's Death Inspires Hospice Care.

September 7, 2011

Blue Skies Hosts An Evening with Ol' Blue Eyes

On August 28th, Blues Skies Hospice hosted "An Evening with Ol' Blue Eyes" at Regency Place of Dyer. One of Northwest Indiana's favorite entertainers Jim Bulanda provided the entertainment for the residents and their families. Bulanda regularly performs Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Tony Bennett songs throughout the area and has played with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He was kind and generous enough to donate his time and talent to help Blue Skies create a magical evening for the residents and families. The Blue Skies staff served refreshments, while the audience sang along and enjoyed the music.

Blue Skies plans to host more entertainment events at Regency. As you can see in the pictures, a good time was had by all.

Jim Bulanda

Blue Skies Volunteer Julie Hancin, Blue Skies Nurse Karen Lansdowne, RN, Blue Skies Volunteer Coordinator Pearl Masciotra

Bulanda Entertaining the Crowd