Agrace News

As reported by Volunteer Wisconsin

Congratulations to Volunteer Rock Star, Jane Moorman!

Agrace Hospice& Pallative Care is fortunate to have a Volunteer Rock Star like Jane Moorman. Jane has dedicated more than 1,000 hours over 10 years as a volunteer with Agrace! Lacey Struensee, volunteer coordinator at Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care in Madison, wanted to recognize Jane’s continued hard work and efforts at the organization. Struensee noted, “The families and patients she visits with all have good feedback, and often request her again when additional needs arise. Staff who interact with Jane all report that she is pleasant and kind. She is willing to help out any way she can. She also provides detailed updates on her patient visits for the staff, which they find very helpful.”

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By Catherine W. Idzerda of the Janesville Gazette

Local experts offer suggestions for coping with sadness during the holiday season

We’re now at the point where Christmas is inescapable.

We’ve had holiday music since October, decorations in streets and stores since November and seasonal television and newspaper ads for what feels like forever.

For people who are grieving, all that holiday glitter and gladness heightens the tangible feeling of sorrow unique to bereavement, local experts said.

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As Reported by Volunteer Wisconsin

Congratulations to Rhonda Schwenn, our newest Volunteer Rock Star!

Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. is grateful to have a Volunteer Rock Star like Rhonda Shwenn. Rhonda has graciously given more than 500 hours and two years to the organization. On average, she makes between six and ten patient visits a week, each an hour long. During these visits, Schwenn exudes a tremendous amount of patience, kindness, and dedication to Agrace HospiceCare. Laura Komjathy, Volunteer Coordinator at Agrace, remarks that staff members appreciate Rhonda as much as the patients do. “Rhonda’s work with our patients is appreciated and often mentioned by Agrace Clinical staff, who see her interacting with patients out in the service areas she works in. Rhonda’s kindness and patience with difficult patients, and dedication to returning to visits week after week even when they get verbally hostile or it takes an emotional toll to continue when she gets no outward shows of appreciation from patients, is commendable, and is recognized by staff as a special gift.”

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Belinda Johnson and her gentle canine giant, Gizmo, have been creating smiles in Rockford’s hospitals, skilled nursing homes, assisted livings and other community residential facilities for three years. So when Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care expanded into Rockford in 2016, Johnson saw another opportunity for Gizmo to relieve some of the stress and loneliness often brought on by a life-limiting illness.  

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Mary Golembeck of Belvidere, Ill., has joined Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care as nurse practitioner for its new palliative care service, PalliaHealth by Agrace. Golembeck will visit patients across the stateline area who are struggling with poorly controlled symptoms and stress related to having a serious illness.

PalliaHealth by Agrace provides specialized, supportive care designed to improve comfort and reduce stress for people who have serious illnesses. Unlike hospice care, the palliative care services provided by PalliaHealth are appropriate at any point during a serious illness, including while a person continues to receive treatment that’s intended to cure their illness.

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The Veterans Task Force at Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care is collecting new socks for distribution to Madison-area homeless veterans, as part of Agrace’s volunteer support of Madison’s Stand Down Day. The community is encouraged to drop off sock donations at the reception desk at Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison. Donations will be accepted until noon on Friday, October 27.

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As reported by Karen Michel of Madison Magazine

The difference between a good workplace and an outstanding one depends on certain factors. For some, it could be the friendly company culture and the caliber of co-workers that tip the scale toward being a stellar workplace. For others, it may be competitive pay and special perks. When it comes to keeping employees happy and productive, 35 Madison-area companies in this year’s Best Places to Work survey seem to have captured the right balance.

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Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care has hired Rockford pastor Charles “Chuck” Olson as Spiritual and Grief Counselor on Agrace’s Rockford-based hospice care team. With an office at 7290 Argus Drive in Rockford, Agrace is a local, nonprofit palliative care and hospice agency, providing end-of-life care and related services to people in four counties in northern Illinois.

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As Reported by Helu Wang of Unified Newspaper Group

After her sister passed away two months ago, Staci Hannes had trouble handling her emotions.

Hannes still tears up whenever she mentions any upcoming events related to her sister – her anniversary and birthday and their family’s beach bash.

She learned how to move on by talking about it.

“I felt really good when I left last time. Now I can remember and love my sister, but take care of myself at the same time,” Hannes said.

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