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Boquete Health and Hospice

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Boquete Health and Hospice last won the day on June 21 2019

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    Trish Christofferson
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    Live and/or work in Chiriqui
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    In Chiriqui
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    Still some spots available for next week's CPR Training! Sign up today! Learn to save a life and help a family member, friend, or neighbor in an emergency by attending CPR training at BHH. This free class will be held Wednesday, January 10th at the Amigos de Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete. It will start at 11:30 am following our general meeting and last about an hour. During the training, our amazing instructors teach participants hands-on CPR chest compressions (no mouth-to-mouth), as well as the Heimlich maneuver for airway obstruction. This is a non-certified course. Preregistration is required and class size is limited to sixteen. Please register for the January 10 workshop by emailing CPR@boquetehealth.org or clicking the button below. Although this training is free, your donations to support our work are always gratefully accepted. https://www.boquetehealthandhospice.org/cpr.html
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    Please join us for our monthly general meeting next Wednesday, January 10th, from 10-11 am at the Amigos de Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete. This will be different from our usual meetings! The Council will vote to confirm the new slate of officers, and Dr. Rod Gottula and Dave Nichols will be soliciting suggestions from the public as to where we should focus our energies. Are you passionate about delivering hospice and palliative care in Panama? Do you have ideas for how BHH can improve our services and reach more people in need? This will be a great opportunity to share your thoughts. We'll be putting our current services under the microscope and discussing how we can make them more organized and efficient. Our Community Outreach group has been making a big push to get the word out to the Panamanian community about our services—how can we better those efforts? There also appears to be a new emphasis in Chiriquí to improve the province's palliative care system. How can we collaborate with others to maximize the services available to the local community? We'll also take a broader look to the future as we develop our three-year plan. What services do we want to keep providing? Are there any we wish to discontinue? Do we want to develop any NEW programs? Your input is invaluable to us, so please come and share your ideas. If you cannot attend in person or via Zoom, feel free to send your thoughts directly to our president at rodgottula@gmail.com. If received in time, they will be included in the meeting discussion. Together, we can chart a future for BHH that benefits everyone in our community. Thanks to all of you for your dedication to BHH, and we hope to see you at the January meeting!a
  3. Just TWO DAYS AWAY! The next Boquete Health & Hospice blood drive is set for this Saturday, October 21st from 7 am to noon at Amigos de Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete. While preregistration is not required and we welcome walk-ins, preregistering will give you a specific time slot and minimize your wait. We are trying to beat the record we set last June for the most pints ever collected in a blood drive in Panama! Please scroll through our Facebook page to read testimonials from both donors and people who have benefited from blood donations. In most cases the need for blood is an emergency--it's not something you can predict or plan for. You or a loved one could be the next person in need. Why not pay it forward if you can? And if you are not able to donate due to age, health, recent international travel or other reasons, please consider making a financial contribution to our matching fund. We are now able to accept credit card donations! These blood drives cost money to stage and we are grateful for your help. Sign up to give blood or make a matching donation today! Muchas gracias. Blood Donor Preregistration Form (in English) https://www.boquetehealthandhospice.org/form.html Blood Donor Preregistration Form (en español) https://www.boquetehealthandhospice.org/form-spanish.html Matching Fund Donor Form https://www.boquetehealthandhospice.org/matchinghero.html ReplyForward
  4. Do you qualify to donate blood, the gift of life? You qualify if: You are Between 18 and 65 years old Minimum weight (110 lbs) In good health No Covid since October 15, 2022 Not traveled out of Panama since Aug 15, 2022 To register to donate blood at our next event on November 11th, please click here: https://www.boquetehealthandhospice.org/form.html If you cannot donate blood at this time but wish to make a financial contribution in support of our work, please click here: https://www.boquetehospice.org/donate
  5. Be a hero and donate the gift of life. Be a blood donor for the Boquete Health and Hospice November Blood Drive.
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    Every blood donor is a Hero. Be a Hero!!!
  7. Subscribe Past Issues RSS Translate View this email in your browser Letter From President John Earle Calendar of Events Volunteer Spotlight – Lesley Hughes Event Recap – January 12th Meeting & Elections The “Magic of Music” Chris’s Corner Training Videos How to Get Medical Equipment Tree of Life BHH Policies Our Mission Statement Our mission is to inform and promote community health. To support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services. To provide palliative (Hospice) care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain. Letter from The President Dear Friends, As your new president, the first thing I want to do is thank Lesley Hughes for her two years of outstanding service to BHHF as president. She invited me to begin participating in the BHHF Council conversations in December – getting me in tune with the way we currently go about our important mission. Boquete Health and Hospice is quite different from when I was last president around 14 years ago! Since that time our organization has expanded into many new community health support areas. I am very impressed with the amazing organization and efficiency of the entire leadership team – from Lesley, to the board and to all the teams. BHHF is fortunate to have such amazing talent at the controls. (I was even given a few tasks to perform – never waste an active volunteer!). In my new role as President, I will have a great deal of support. The current board consists of two other past presidents, Laurie Collier and Lesley Hughes. The old Chinese curse “may you live in interesting times” seems to have blossomed in our time. I don’t know about “interesting,” but the Covid virus has made our operations more “challenging.” We are continually reviewing how to meet and greet each other as well as handling people coming for equipment or other services safely. Behind the scenes many decisions are being made on how to deal with these challenges. The team leaders are ever vigilant. The Omicron variant seems to have arrived quickly, expanded exponentially, and hopefully will diminish rapidly. We are very hopeful that the curse of Covid will end this year. Meanwhile BHHF will continue to be as inclusive as possible while remaining focused on safety, and we will continue our compassionate and caring mission as stated at the top of this newsletter. Thank you all for the work that you do in caring for our amazing community! Upcoming Events Feb 2 – Council meeting Feb 9 – General Meeting (Zoom Only) **All in-person general meetings are cancelled for now (except the January training class) May 13, 14 and 15 – Art Show and Auction (postponed from February) The BHH Family wishes to extend its sincerest gratitude to Lesley Hughes as she steps down as President after 2 years! When Lesley was elected President in 2020, her term was only going to be for one year as there were several other things she wanted to do in BHH. Little did she know, BHH would not let her retire after only one year; we asked her to stay on as President for another year. 2020 started out on a high note. A volunteer class was underway, BHH had several initiatives planned and BHH was gaining a lot more awareness in the community. Things were off to a great start. Then COVID attacked Panama and our local area. Immediately Lesley and the other Board members were thrust into crisis management mode. The pandemic, and how to manage through it as a health organization, was all new. Lesley immediately took the lead and with the Board began making some very difficult decisions. During these decisions, and still to this day, Lesley is a mother hen as she often says. In her words, the safety and care of our volunteers comes first and foremost. In every pandemic related decision made, Lesley always checked to ensure our volunteers were protected the best way possible. Lesley’s approach to decision-making is levelheaded and always with a focus on safety first. Despite two years of the pandemic, Lesley encouraged BHH to grow. While many other volunteer organizations were scaling back or closing altogether, Lesley pushed BHH into new territory and BHH grew. From when she assumed the role of President in 2020 until now, BHH has seen the number of patients more than double. A few of the BHH accomplishments in the two years Lesley has been president are: • Volunteers When our Volunteer Coordinator retired this past fall, Lesley assumed the role and began interviewing and coordinating new volunteers until a new coordinator would be in position. Lesley did a terrific job making new members feel welcome while learning about BHH. In fact, every new volunteer in the October 2021 class Lesley taught, has become very active in BHH. Two new volunteer classes were delivered between 2020-2021. She jumped in to help teach the October 2021 class. She is organizing and will co-teach the upcoming new volunteer class in January 2022. Lesley and BHH did its best to reach out to volunteers and to keep them both informed and as involved as possible during times of COVID lockdowns. • Technology Zoom became a way of communicating so everyone could stay in contact. A new database project was kicked off which will tie patient care, equipment, volunteers, donors, treasury, and many other features together. The database will go live the first quarter of 2022. A new BHH website with many more features and flexibility was started and will go live the first quarter of 2022. It will include both Spanish and English. • Community Awareness Despite the pandemic, the local community, and doctors both in Boquete and David, became more aware of BHH. Patient calls, equipment loans, services provided and general health related questions have more than doubled. Lesley appeared in several presentations and on radio to promote BHH. She appeared in a Being Prepared video to help promote the importance of being prepared in Boquete. The Boquete Mayor’s office partnered with BHH to host the October 2021 blood drive • Equipment New equipment purchases were made to address the expanding growth BHH is facing. Creative ways to repair existing equipment to keep costs down were implemented. Additional equipment locker space was obtained. Additional volunteers were trained in equipment and respiratory. • Personal Touches to Say We Care A few volunteers came to Lesley with an idea: What if BHH could provide music to its patients and caregivers when going through difficult times? Lesley immediately jumped on the idea and encouraged the creation of a Music Team which today provides music and customized playlists to those in need with MP3 players. Friendship Baskets were introduced with Lesley championing the idea. The project took off and now volunteers, patients and caregivers who are experiencing very difficult situations may receive a basket to let them know that the BHH family cares and is with them. Of course, all of this could not have been accomplished without a team of wonderful volunteers. Lesley made sure every volunteer was heard and was encouraged to contribute. She was not afraid to jump in and work beside all of our volunteers. It was not uncommon to see Lesley working on multiple committees and projects at the same time. The wonderful news is that she is not leaving BHH in 2022. Instead, Lesley is switching roles and will continue to be extremely active. She has assumed the position of BHH Treasurer. She is also joining the Respiratory Team, where her EMT skills will once again be used. Lesley is co-teaching the January New Volunteer Training class as well as assisting and preparing the new volunteer training instructors as they move into their new roles. And, you can bet that Lesley will be at the next blood drive with her sleeve rolled up. We are so fortunate to have Lesley as part of the BHH Family and are so happy that she continues to be an extremely active member. Thank you, Lesley, from all of us! Volunteer Application Form Activity Recap January 12th General Meeting & Election The January meeting was by Zoom only. There was first the Election of Officers – the slate was elected. We appreciate our great slate of volunteers on the board! President – John Earle Vice President – Laurie Collier Secretary - John Ferguson Treasurer – Lesley Hughes There was a wonderful presentation by Michael Polacek on “Understanding Experiential and Emotional Trauma”, followed by Bev Tyler explaining the position of Patient Care Coordinators. The “Magic of Music” The Magic of Music Team would like to invite you to visit our website and use our free Music Playlists derived from YouTube https://www.boquetehospice.org/music-playlists Additionally, we have another list of free YouTube Playlists that are associated with our articles about Music: https://www.boquetehospice.org/playlists-music You'll find our Music articles at: https://www.boquetehospice.org/music-health-wellness 7 Ways Houseplants May Improve Your Health, According to Scientists Filling your home with greenery can do a whole lot more for you than provide content. Several studies have shown that an indoor garden can boost your mental and physical well-being. Read the Articule Videos Education Videos are up and running! Excellent info for caregivers and general public in both Spanish and English. Topics include using all kinds of equipment including crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, how to move patients safely for both patient and caregiver, and general patient care. There are also informative videos on Alzheimer’s and other dementia. To find these, go to the BHH website: Boquetehealth.org - Education - chose your topic. Videos Need Medical Equipment? If you or someone you know has a need to borrow or return equipment, please contact our Patient Care Coordinators (PCCs) at 6781-9250. All requests related to equipment must go through the PCCs. The PCCs will work with you or the caregiver to determine the appropriate equipment, availability and loan period. Once the equipment need is identified, the PCCs coordinate with the Equipment Team to ensure the correct equipment is sanitized and ready to be checked out (picked up) at our locker located at Alto Dorado. A member of the Equipment Team will contact you or the caregiver directly to make arrangements to meet at our locker. Please note that our Equipment Team members only go to the locker for scheduled equipment checkouts and returns. No Equipment Team member is staffed at the locker and the locker is only open during specific times. Therefore, it is important to contact the PCCs first. When you are ready to return equipment, the process is the same. Simply call the PCCs at 6781-9250. If you are using a piece of equipment for the first time, be sure to visit our website and go to Patient/Caregiver Videos under the Education tab to learn more. Here you will find videos and information on using equipment and caring for patients in the home. About the Tree of Life The tree was created to honor our donors and volunteers. The roots are volunteers, the trunk is the council, the leaves are people who have donated $100 or more. The two color leaves are people who have donated for two years. The flowers are sponsors who donate $1000 or more. The Lilies are memorials to people who have passed. Family or friends have donated $200 or more to honor them. Add your leaf or flower or Lily. Click the button to make our tree grow. Thank you. Donate Click Here to Enlarge Tree Many Thanks to Our New and Repeat Donors Pat & Harvey Thomas The policies of the organization are posted on our website. There is a link under Information Menu Policies. https://www.boquetehospice.org/bhh-policies The policies will be updated as needed. Read To Make a Donation BHHF functions with donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution: • Check or cash please contact Lesley Hughes, treasurer, at treasurer@boquetehealth.org • Click Here to make an online Paypal donation. • Direct Deposit to Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, Global Bank Checking Account #16-101-23071-6 _____________________ Contact Us 8am to 5pm M-F, 9am to 1pm Sat & Sun Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250 Blood Donor Program: WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 Email: info@boquetehealth.org Website: http://www.boquetehealth.org FacebookPage: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org
  8. View this email in your browser NEW General Meeting Times - 2nd Wednesday of every month, starting January 12 - 10:00 a.m. at the Animales Building. Letter From Your President Calendar of Events BHH Council Notes February Art Auction – Call for Art Donations Volunteer Spotlight…& BHH History Need Medical Equipment? Event Recap - December 1st Volunteer Appreciation Lunch The “Magic of Music” Training Videos Tree of Life BHH Policies Our Mission Statement Our mission is to inform and promote community health. To support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services. To provide palliative (Hospice) care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain. SENDING YOU THE VERY BEST WISHES FOR A JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Letter from the President This will be my last Letter from the President. I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped me over the past two years, and THANK YOU for the wonderful gift that was given to me at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. You have all been wonderful and I have every confidence that John Earle and Laurie Collier will lead BHH with great results. Last month (and at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon) I thanked the individuals who contributed time, energy and talent during 2021. An amazing 57 certificates were given out. This month I would like to thank the whole organization and spotlight some of the INCREDIBLE work that was done by some of our teams. As a whole, the organization accomplished: Planning Initiatives Letter to MINSA requesting priority vaccinations for volunteers that deal with patients/families (denied) Team Leader in Potrerillos (Liz B). Combination Pad Locks installed on the locker doors Update main video on website with current activities Final First Aid at Home presentation given. Videotaped. By-laws updated to include new member level Email sent to Team Leaders asking for them to contact their teams. New Team Rosters sent out. Oxygen Concentrators status checked Tree of Life – new colors for 2021 Policy on Equipment issues Policy on Respiratory Equipment loan protocol Policy on Respiratory Maintenance protocol Caregivers Support – proposal accepted. Three Blood Drives – March, June and October Email to members on how to improve their volunteer experience CPR – One Class held April 14 following the general meeting. 4 students per class. Determine how to deal with damaged oxygen concentrators – Repair options discovered in Panama City. Update/Verify Home Assistance List Being Prepared Video ready for release Eight new volunteers trained “How To” videos reviewed and placed on web site Locations to rent and buy oxygen concentrators in country Additional Storage Locker rented In addition to the above, the teams accomplished: Patient Care Coordinators The PCCs (Patient Care Coordinators) fielded an average of over 55 calls per month, assisted (on average) 20 individual patients per month for everything from equipment needs to mental health questions to blood requests (passed the questions on to the Blood Team), to Being Prepared questions and many other topics. Equipment Team: 87 Expats and 47 Panamanians were assisted with 194 pieces of equipment (Jan. 1 to Nov. 30) New equipment was purchased at a cost of $4655.32 Beds Walkers Wheelchairs Canes Bedside Commodes Shower Chairs Gait Belts Surge Protectors Miscellaneous Equipment Supplies were purchased at a cost of $595.64 Respiratory Team Concentrators and supplies were distributed to the community as necessary. Many people are breathing easier thanks to this team. Blood Team 168 Units were collected from three blood drives (52 in March, 55 in June and 61 in October) 32 patients (10 expat, 22 Panamanian) have been helped with 58 units of blood (Jan. 1 to Nov. 30). Video and Translation Team The team has been busy, translating forms for use by the Equipment Team, reviewing videos in Spanish for placement on the web site, assisting patients and researching/verifying information. Not one month has gone by without this team contributing extensively. Meals Over the course of 2021, five patients have received 19 meals, courtesy of our volunteers (Jan. 1 to Nov. 30). Ambassadors Team This year, the team has been busy having a presence at all of our training classes as well as our General Meetings (when held in person at the Animales building). They also provided over 10 Friendship baskets to those in our community that were in need of a reminder that they are loved and cared about. Being Prepared Team Four workshops were held and over 150 people from our community attended and learned the value of Being Prepared for Death here in Panama. Other Four “First Aid in the Home” classes were presented. One CPR class was held Eight new volunteers were trained in what BHH does for the community (3 day class) Three radio shows and one Community Chat on what BHH can do for you were held. Finances Donations were slightly up versus last year ($14,152 in 2021 vs. $13,321 in 2020). Up 6.2%. Expenses were up significantly versus 2021 ($12,175 in 2021 vs. $9898 in 2020). Up 26.2%. Mostly equipment. In November we purchased an additional 4 hospital beds at a cost of approximately $4,000 due to the increased need by our community (Jan. 1 to Nov. 30). Thank you for your generosity and enthusiastic support for all the programs of Boquete Health and Hopsice Proposed Slate of Officers for 2022 President – John Earle Vice President – Laurie Collier Secretary - John Ferguson Treasurer – Lesley Hughes Election will be held JANUARY 12, 2022 at the Animales Building at 10:00 a.m. Voting will be in person only. The election will be the first thing on the agenda so those who wish to vote and leave, may do so. Sad News In addition to the passing of two of our members Joyce Newton and Newman Jones (as noted in the November newsletter), BHH has just lost one of our founding members. Shirley Maffitt died Dec. 10. She was one of our Ambassadors and during 2020 was always at our table during events/training. She was a member for over 14 years and will be missed very much. TRAINER NEEDED: All BHH Members: BHH has an opportunity for someone to become the new Trainer for our New Volunteer Training Course. The Trainer's job entails: The training is three days and you will be working all three days from 9 to 3. The Student Manual, the Instructor Manual and the general course time line are developed. You will be responsible for teaching about 1/3 of the class. Someone from the Council will do part of the training, and a PCC will do part of the training. In addition, part of the training will be conducted by individuals who have special expertise or are Team Leads (e.g., Equipment Team Lead). According to current BHH Policies, you must be vaccinated and be willing to wear a mask the entire class. The class is composed of minimal lecture, group discussion, numerous hands-on activities, homework discussion and lots of interaction between everyone in the room. This is not your typical lecture type class. It is a fun class to teach! You are guaranteed to know almost everything about BHH by the time the class is over. Craig and I will help you teach the January class and will be available to answer any questions going forward. We are looking forward to having you help new volunteers learn about BHH, the volunteer position, the various available volunteer positions, and all of the services we provide to the community! If you are interested, please let Lesley (lesleyahughes@gmail.com) or Craig (cgatrel@gmail.com) know. We will get together soon and start forming the training team and planning class logistics. We would also like to welcome Sandra Cripe to the training team. She will be the new Volunteer Coordinator and will be responsible for the behind-the-scenes administrative work. Last Official Event for 2021 On Dec. 9 five volunteers (Lesley, Craig, Sally, Carmen and Penny) participated in a Community Chat at the library. About 20 people attended and listened to a presentation on the volunteer opportunities within Boquete Health and Hospice. After the meeting, three people introduced themselves and wanted more information about how to volunteer. Our next New Volunteer Training class will be held in late January and is already full. Future classes will be held as warranted. Thank you Boquete, for being so supportive of our organization. Lesley Hughes, President Upcoming Events Dec 28th Final Day for Nominations for Officers Jan 5th Planning Meeting Jan 12th Annual Meeting and Election of Officers BHH Council Notices A change has been proposed and accepted by the Boquete Health and Hospice Council. In order to facilitate communication and make sure that all concerns are brought to the Council’s attention, please submit items to be discussed/acted upon to the Secretary (John Ferguson) (johnstpete@gmail.com) in writing by 5:00 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month. The Council will consider all items on the agenda that month. Anything received late will be added to the following month’s agenda. General Meeting Dates: Starting January 12, 2022 the General meeting will be moved from 1:00pm on the second Wednesday to 10:00 on the second Wednesday. Donate NOW John Earle, one of the founders of Boquete Health and Hospice, and the first president back in 2007, is again stepping in and running for the position of President for 2022. Be sure to come to the January 12th General Meeting and Elections, vote, and say “hi” to John! A bit of his and Babbie’s history follows. History of the Founding of BHH by Babbie & John Earle Founders of Boquete Health and Hospice We experienced our parents dying, subjected to drastic measures rather than experiencing death with dignity. At that time, we both realized that we needed to become conscientious and prepared around the dying process. We began reading and researching (including Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s work) and knew that dying with dignity and without pain, the Hospice concept, was a concept that we wanted to embrace and share. An important item of note is that now we serve the Panamanian community as well as the ex-pat community. This was not possible at the outset. Recently 50 percent of the calls received were from Panamanians. We are the only hospice in the country. A talented, knowledgeable and dedicated group of people over the years have created an organization dedicated to serving through education, providing services and by providing assistance during vulnerable, intimate and sometimes a very stressful time of life. The development of BHHF included writing manuals, setting up trainings, establishing different teams for providing home comfort like food deliveries, adding the necessary concept of health support to our mission, creating an ever evolving great website, working with a group of trained nurses who work with our Patient Care Coordinator, setting up a library, shipping in from the US containers of medical equipment and having that available for our patients, establishing a blood drive, and an amazing Music team, and the booklet and presentations, “Being Prepared In Boquete For Life and Death”. A lot of work! The Panamanian government actually had, and still has, on the books the National Palliative Care Resolution # 499 - stating that each province has to have a palliative care center. We worked hard then and over the years trying to find someone who knew about this law. It had not been implemented and, in communicating with doctors and lawyers and government officials, we discovered that few knew of the law and, if they did, there was not much knowledge about what palliative care is. So, we gathered together with other people and began to figure out the process for BHHF’s beginnings. We had no idea how complicated bringing the concept, much less the formation of a legal entity, to Panama would be. We persevered and finally, in 2007 BHHF was established as a legal entity. When we arrived in Boquete in 1999 there were 30 expats and most of us were here without extended family and wanted to support one another. We began researching to learn what customs and beliefs here influenced people’s views of dying and death. We needed to learn what laws governed the establishment of a hospice here. The Panamanian cultural idea was that with dying, often the suffering is accepted and expected. A belief which John and I hoped to dispel. Not that we can plan our deaths, but we can all contemplate and incorporate various practices that might make our passing more peaceful for ourselves and our loved ones. John served on the board of one of the first Hospices in the US and then we both had the privilege, for 30 years in Vermont, of being Hospice volunteers, both on various steering committees and sitting with patients. Donate Volunteer Application Form Need Medical Equipment? If you or someone you know has a need to borrow or return equipment, please contact our Patient Care Coordinators (PCCs) at 6781-9250. All requests related to equipment must go through the PCCs. The PCCs will work with you or the caregiver to determine the appropriate equipment, availability and loan period. Once the equipment need is identified, the PCCs coordinate with the Equipment Team to ensure the correct equipment is sanitized and ready to be checked out (picked up) at our locker located at Alto Dorado. A member of the Equipment Team will contact you or the caregiver directly to make arrangements to meet at our locker. Please note that our Equipment Team members only go to the locker for scheduled equipment checkouts and returns. No Equipment Team member is staffed at the locker and the locker is only open during specific times. Therefore, it is important to contact the PCCs first. When you are ready to return equipment, the process is the same. Simply call the PCCs at 6781-9250. If you are using a piece of equipment for the first time, be sure to visit our website and go to Patient/Caregiver Videos under the Education tab to learn more. Here you will find videos and information on using equipment and caring for patients in the home. Goto BHH Website Activity Recap December 1st Volunteer Appreciation Lunch At 1pm on December 1st, Tap Out was filling up with happy and festive volunteers from Boquete Health and Hospice – out to enjoy goodwill and good times with each other. President Lesley Hughes recapped 2021 and gave out certificates of appreciation to the various volunteers who had roles to play throughout the year. Treasurer Laurie Collier, on behalf of the club, thanked Lesley for all her service during a very difficult pandemic year. Thank you Lesley! Vaccinations If you are vaccinated, please take a photo of your vaccination card and upload it to our website. It will be kept confidential, but will allow us to contact volunteers when we need members for people to do events in the community. If you are having trouble uploading it, email it to Lesley Hughes at Click Here to Email Enter Vaccine Info The “Magic of Music” Personal Music Players for our Patients & Caregivers: We lend music players to our patients and caregivers! Music is a great way to provide relaxation, reduce stress, aid in sleeping, and in general, just make a difficult time a bit brighter. These are small, clip-on devices that have many selections of different music genres. We can also personalize the music choices. Recently, a patient asked us for some Reggae music, and we were happy to provide that for her. These players are especially helpful for patients who are using an oxygen concentrator. This is due to the loud sound of the concentrator's motors. Music can help us all! Please contact our Patient Care Coordinators at 6781-9250 to request a player along with your other equipment loans. Reproductores de música personales para nuestros pacientes y cuidadores: ¡Prestamos reproductores de música a nuestros pacientes y cuidadores! La música es una excelente manera de proporcionar relajación, reducir el estrés, ayudar a dormir y, en general, simplemente hacer que un momento difícil sea un poco más brillante. Estos son dispositivos pequeños con clip que tienen muchas selecciones de diferentes géneros musicales. También podemos personalizar las opciones musicales. Recientemente, una paciente nos pidió algo de música reggae y nos alegramos de proporcionársela. Estos reproductores son especialmente útiles para los pacientes que utilizan un concentrador de oxígeno. Esto se debe al fuerte sonido de los motores del concentrador. ¡La música puede ayudarnos a todos! Comuníquese con nuestros Coordinadores de atención al paciente al 6781-9250 para solicitar un reproductor junto con sus otros préstamos de equipo. Magic of Music Team's Music Wellness webpage: https://boquetehealth.org/music-magic-1 "Are you Listening?" Boquete Health & Hospice recognizes the critical importance of the skill of listening. The BH&H New Volunteer Training Manual mentions this skill in the contexts of the volunteer job description, volunteer duties, emotional support and caring, and the manual even has an entire section on listening skills in the chapter on communication. But realistically, how often do we take listening for granted? How often do we intentionally set out to cultivate our listening skills? This month, the Magic of Music team takes a look at cultivating "deep listening" which has the capacity to not only enhance your enjoyment of music but also deepen your relationships and potentially transform your very consciousness! In the article you'll find not only a discussion of exactly what we mean by "deep listening" but also links to music to help you practice deep listening, TED Talks on the impact of listening as a skill to strengthen human connections, and other resources to help you experiment with and cultivate your deep listening skills. Check out this month's article from the Magic of Music Team: "Are You Listening? Are You Listening Videos Education Videos are up and running! Excellent info for caregivers and general public in both Spanish and English. Topics include using all kinds of equipment including crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, how to move patients safely for both patient and caregiver, and general patient care. There are also informative videos on Alzheimer’s and other dementia. To find these, go to the BHH website: Boquetehealth.org - Education - chose your topic. Videos About the Tree of Life The tree was created to honor our donors and volunteers. The roots are volunteers, the trunk is the council, the leaves are people who have donated $100 or more. The two color leaves are people who have donated for two years. The flowers are sponsors who donate $1000 or more. The Lilies are memorials to people who have passed. Family or friends have donated $200 or more to honor them. Add your leaf or flower or Lily. Click the button to make our tree grow. Thank you. Donate Click Here to Enlarge Tree Many Thanks to Our New and Repeat Donors Kat McKay Linda Simmons Merl & Barbara Will-Wallace The policies of the organization are posted on our website. There is a link at the bottom of the home page or you can go to the “More” page to read them or download a PDF version. The policies will be updated as needed. Read To Make a Donation BHHF functions with donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution: • Check or cash please contact Laurie Collier, treasurer, at treasurer@boquetehealth.org • Click Here to make an online Paypal donation. • Direct Deposit to Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, Global Bank Checking Account #16-101-23071-6 _____________________ Contact Us 8am to 5pm M-F, 9am to 1pm Sat & Sun Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250 Blood Donor Program: WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 Email: info@boquetehealth.org Website: http://www.boquetehealth.org FacebookPage: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org
  9. View this email in your browser NEW General Meeting Times - 2nd Wednesday of every month, starting January 12 - 10:00 a.m. at the Animales Building. December Meeting is the Luncheon Dec 1 Table of Contents Letter From Your President Calendar of Events Council Notes February Art Auction – Call for Art Donations Letter From Merl Will-Wallace Did You Know…. Volunteer Spotlight – Laurie Collier October 27th “Being Prepared” Workshop November 10th General Meeting The “Magic of Music” Chris’s Corner - Breast Cancer Vaccine Training Videos Tree of Life BHH Policies & Mission Statement Letter from the President BHH Training As with everything in life, things evolve. 14 years ago, when BHH was founded, the focus was on helping people who were close to death and helping them and their loved ones cope. Currently, that is only one part of what BHH does – we ALSO assist people who need equipment, people who need blood, we provide education (CPR and Being Prepared are examples of two of the trainings we provide), we assist with translations and work with the medical community to make sure that people get the care and information they need. The curriculum currently being used for training our new volunteers has been updated to reflect the fact that, at the current time, we are NOT making home visits. Everything that is covered is for the benefit of those new volunteers: they learn what BHH is, what services are offered, how to help friends and loved ones who may need equipment or be in an emergency situation, the volunteer opportunities on our various teams, the roles of our volunteers and the guidelines that the volunteers need to follow, and a review of how to communicate successfully with people of a diverse background and those who may have impairments, and, finally, we go over the Being Prepared program. The training takes 18 hours and is broken down as follows: Day 1 History of BHH The role of the Patient Care Coordinator The role of the Hospice and Family Care teams Introduction to BHH’s various volunteer teams The roles of the volunteers (both those who work with patients and those who do not) Guidelines that the volunteers must follow (both with patients and doing other tasks) How to deal with death, dying and grief (so the volunteers can help their friends/neighbors/loved ones Day 2 Patient Care – what medical emergencies can be handled at home and which ones require professional medical intervention How the medical system (physical and mental) works in Panama Body Mechanics Use of Equipment (Wheelchairs, Walkers, Canes, Gait Belts and Crutches) – geared toward the use by our volunteers at home Signs of dying (so the volunteers can help their friends/neighbors/loved ones) Day 3 Communication Skills Communicating with those who are “different” from you” – Diversity Communicating with Special Groups (Deaf, Blind, Dementia) Diversity – how we engage it by personally living in Panama as well as how we volunteer and interact with others Being Prepared program Planning for your medical emergency In all, only about 45 minutes are devoted to working with hospice patients. After all, we may only have 5-8 hospice patients a year, however, we perform our other activities constantly. At the end of the third day, the class is presented with scenarios that are taken from real life. For example: What would you do if your neighbor called and said that her spouse was having a mental breakdown? Or, your worker twisted his ankle and needs help. Or someone stops you in the street and asks how to make a donation to BHH. None of this has anything to do with taking care of a dying person. They do have everything to do with what BHH does. The goal is to educate the new volunteers in the history of BHH, what we do, how they can fit in, where to find information to share, and the opportunities we provide. In addition to the aforementioned training, team-specific training will be provided as needed for certain volunteer roles (for example: if you volunteer for the Respiratory Team, you will receive specialized training in the use, maintenance, etc. of oxygen concentrators). When the time is right, and we start working in homes again, a training will be held for those who are interested in that portion of our work. We will cover how to move patients, how to change beds with patients in them, how to help the caregivers care for the patients, what we can and cannot do. The training is twofold and at the end of the last day, volunteers walk away: With a thorough understanding of BHH, its service offerings to Boquete and the many volunteer opportunities available, and being able to answer questions about our organization. Prepared to help themselves, family and friends in a medical emergency since the medical system here may be quite different from that of the volunteers’ passport countries. A Training Attendee's Thoughts Since I recently went through that training, I wanted to share my perspective. First of all, I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed every minute of the training classes. It was extremely powerful for me, not only the varied topics but the depth of the topics and the variety of people delivering the messages. I was deeply moved at all the ways this organization comes together to support people in need in this community. Based on that training, the article that I wrote this month for the Magic of Music team is largely inspired by the importance of the skill of "listening" for BHH volunteers and even references various places in the training manual that talk about listening (the article was just published on the website today: "Are You Listening?"). And the training even moved me to the point of wanting to become more involved in BHH - I would welcome the opportunity to be an in-person care-giver if I was needed in this capacity. I can see how my experience with meditation (silence and presence) can particularly be of value in this capacity. And it was Babbie Earle's presentation that made me realize this. Other presentations such as Kim Dougherty's and Chuck High's were particularly powerful as well. I can think of no one who "flopped" in their presentations - just the opposite - each one offered me something of value. And it opened my eyes to more places within the organization where I can be of value, too. And this happened because the training educated me on the many aspects of the organization outside my current niche. I have heard that there is a push to shorten the training. If I had a vote I would opt to keep the length of training as it is. I can think of no content that isn't worth the time to learn about as a new volunteer. Even if a new volunteer isn't interested in a particular area, I think it is still important that the new volunteer knows about those other areas. It's important that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. Anyway, that's my two cents. To those of you who put in much time and effort to make September's training happen, thank you from the bottom of my heart! I was deeply moved and inspired. And I am very grateful to live and work and volunteer amongst you in this community! Thank you On December 1, 2021 we will be having a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Several of our volunteers will not be able to attend. ALL our wonderful, generous, loving volunteers deserve to be recognized. They are: In Memoriam It is with gratitude, love and sadness that we honor two of our members who died this year: Joyce Newton Newman Jones Both gave selflessly to our organization. Both were always willing to answer to call to provide meals when they were needed. Their kindness and friendliness was always welcomed by those they visited when bringing meals. We will miss them very much. Election of Officers On January 12, 2022 we will be holding elections for the coming year. We have two open spots to fill: President and Vice President. The job of President is to lead the organization: prepare agendas for the Council Meetings and General Meetings, make sure the various Teams have what they need to be effective, provide vision and leadership for the organization, assist in the preparation of the Newsletter and encourage volunteers. The job is not extremely challenging and does not require many hours per week. The best part is that the Council, Team Leaders and volunteers are ALWAYS willing to help and offer support and advice. The job of Vice President is to support the President. The Vice President will cover for the President when they are not available, will verify the Council Minutes and other tasks as the President requests. If you are interested in helping the organization by filling either of these two positions, please email Lesley Hughes (lesleyahughes@gmail.com) Upcoming Events Dec 1st Volunteer Appreciation Brunch This is the General Meeting Dec 28th Final Day for Nominations for Officers Jan 5th Planning Meeting Jan 12th Annual Meeting and Election of Officers BHH Council Notices A change has been proposed and accepted by the Boquete Health and Hospice Council. In order to facilitate communication and make sure that all concerns are brought to the Council’s attention, please submit items to be discussed/acted upon to the Secretary (John Ferguson) (johnstpete@gmail.com) in writing by 5:00 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month. The Council will consider all items on the agenda that month. Anything received late will be added to the following month’s agenda. Council Meeting for December and January is Council ONLY. General Meeting Dates: Starting January 12, 2022 the General meeting will be moved from 1:00pm on the second Wednesday to 10:00 on the second Wednesday. Donate Art Open Letter to My BHHF Community from Merl Will-Wallace My wife Barbara and I have lived in and loved Boquete for almost 7 years but now, sadly, need to return to the US permanently. During this time one of my greatest pleasures has been to volunteer for several areas within Boquete Health and Hospice. I have enjoyed great camaraderie and teamwork with all in the ] BHHF volunteer community. Everyone, from the board members to the respiratory team, have had one focus: ‘How can I help?’ This has made BHHF the best volunteer experience in my lifetime. A little over six weeks ago chronic degenerative changes in my spine gave way. I have gone from a vigorous 20 mile per week hiker to a wheelchair bound handicapped person. This has put me in the unique position of going from volunteer to BHHF client. The shock of this sudden change has been life changing, but the outpouring of support from BHHF has made a huge difference in helping me adjust and to successfully execute plans to get back to the US for probably two separate back surgeries. The administrators, the equipment team, the meal team (gourmet dining all the way!), the board members, and ride providers have come to Barbara’s and my support. Thank you is not enough. We love and so appreciate all of you. All of this knowing we are treated no differently from any Boquete resident who reaches out in need to this great organization. As you read this I hope it will inspire you, as a volunteer or as a donor, to continue the great mission and work of Boquete Health and Hospice Foundation. Your time and money will make a difference. Even though Barbara and I will be living in Tucson, AZ, our hearts will be with BHHF and we will continue to support BHHF in any way we can. Did You Know…. BHH currently has over 95 pieces of equipment out on loan to the community. BHH will be purchasing additional hospital beds & MP3 players. We have helped 68 patients needing blood donations since the June 2019 blood drive. The next blood drive will be on June 11th – the World Blood Donor Day. There is a list of nurses the patient care coordinator can provide. There will be a new volunteer training session offered in January. Stay tuned for dates on the upcoming CPR class. Donate Those who volunteer with BHH are truly amazing. Look at the Thank you list above..Or look at the roots and trunk of our Tree of Life. Laurie Collier Rarely is there a volunteer as capable, kind, caring, efficient, and brilliant as Laurie Collier. Laurie's contribution to Boquete Health and Hospice over the years has been tremendous. She has served as President, has held a seat on the Council over several terms, and is currently the Treasurer for Boquete Health and Hospice. Her list of accomplishments goes on….. as she also headed up the PR team for several years, and created the blood drive program which she has been managing since its creation in 2019. The blood drives have saved a number of lives and dramatically improved health care for the Boquete community. In the not too distant past when someone needed blood, a call was put out to find donors (and delays were detrimental to some people’s health). Since the inception of the blood drives, the community has more immediate access to life saving blood supplies. Laurie - a very special lady who is always there when help is needed, always has a kind word, and is supportive of everyone’s effort. BHH is honored to have such a valuable volunteer. We love you Laurie! Sign Up to Volunteer Activity Recaps October 27th “Being Prepared” Workshop Kim Doherty presented “Being Prepared” to an audience of 36, following all MINSA guidelines. This Boquete Health and Hospice “Being Prepared” program was created by members many years ago to assist expats in navigating health and end of life issues in a foreign country. Points covered were steps in preparation for end of life, forms needed, contact numbers, what to do on the day of death and days following, services offered by BHH, etc. We at Boquete Health and Hospice are here to serve you and our community during a difficult and emotional time. BE PREPARED. Handle details in advance so you can have peace of mind and live a joyful life in beautiful Boquete, Panama. If you missed this great and informative workshop, you can still get the “Being Prepared for Death in Boquete Panama” guide. $10 for the paper copy (available at the Tuesday Market BHH table or Mailboxes Etc.) or for a $5 donation online at our website boquetehealth.org. Go to the “donate” tab. In “memo” field please note that is for Being Prepared. When BHH is notified of your donation, a Being Prepared PDF will be emailed to you. This guide is regularly updated, and can help in handling a health crisis and death, what to do, when, where to go and in what order each step needs to be followed. From the left: Penny Barrett, Kay Wade, Sandra Cripe, Cat Vann and Kim Doherty November 10th General Meeting Dr. Roderic Gottula Presented “Blood Sugar – Highs and Lows” Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia were discussed, with information on methods to improve control of both. There were Team Breakouts to develop 2022 plans, and provide the council with their projected needs and planned activities. Teams are: Administration Hospice and Family Care Training & Recruitment Information Technology Magic of Music Equipment Education Blood Donor Public Relations & Marketing Home Comfort Being Prepared Translators Ambassadors Are You Listening? Personal Music Players Boquete Health & Hospice recognizes the critical importance of the skill of listening. The BH&H New Volunteer Training Manual mentions this skill in the contexts of the volunteer job description, volunteer duties, emotional support and caring, and the manual even has an entire section on listening skills in the chapter on communication. But realistically, how often do we take listening for granted? How often do we intentionally set out to cultivate our listening skills? This month, the Magic of Music team takes a look at cultivating "deep listening" which has the capacity to not only enhance your enjoyment of music but also deepen your relationships and potentially transform your very consciousness! In the article you'll find not only a discussion of exactly what we mean by "deep listening" but also links to music to help you practice deep listening, TED Talks on the impact of listening as a skill to strengthen human connections, and other resources to help you experiment with and cultivate your deep listening skills. Check out this month's article from the Magic of Music Team: "Are You Listening?" You can find more info about the Magic of Music Team at Boquete Health & Click Below More Info about the Magic of Music Personal Music Players for our Patients & Caregivers: We lend music players to our patients and caregivers! Music is a great way to provide relaxation, reduce stress, aid in sleeping, and in general, just make a difficult time a bit brighter. These are small, clip-on devices that have many selections of different music genres. We can also personalize the music choices. Recently, a patient asked us for some Reggae music, and we were happy to provide that for her. These players are especially helpful for patients who are using an oxygen concentrator. This is due to the loud sound of the concentrator's motors. Music can help us all! Please contact our Patient Care Coordinators at 6781-9250 to request a player along with your other equipment loans. Videos Education Videos are up and running! Excellent info for caregivers and general public in both Spanish and English. Topics include using all kinds of equipment including crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, how to move patients safely for both patient and caregiver, and general patient care. There are also informative videos on Alzheimer’s and other dementia. To find these, go to the BHH website: Boquetehealth.org - Education - chose your topic. See the List of Videos Vaccinations If you are vaccinated, please take a photo of your vaccination card and upload it to our website. It will be kept confidential, but will allow us to contact volunteers when we need members for people to do events in the community. If you are having trouble uploading it, email it to Lesley Hughes at lesleyahughes@gmail.com. Enter Vaccine Information This section will contain an interesting article that we found on the web with a teaser so you can see if you want to click through. Many places want you to sign up for their mailing list; however, we only choose links that let you bypass the sign up. Later, if you like the site, you can choose to sign up, but not necessary to read the article. Donor-Supported Breast Cancer Vaccine Begins Clinical Trials Cleveland Clinic researchers have opened a novel study for a vaccine aimed at eventually preventing triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive and lethal form of the disease. Go to full article About the Tree of Life The tree was created to honor our donors and volunteers. The roots are volunteers, the trunk is the council, the leaves are people who have donated $100 or more. The two color leaves are people who have donated for two years. The flowers are sponsors who donate $1000 or more. The Lilies are memorials to people who have passed. Family or friends have donated $200 or more to honor them. Add your leaf or flower or Lily. Click the button to make our tree grow. Thank you. Donate Click Here to Enlarge Tree Many Thanks to Our New and Repeat Donors Alison & Bill Brundage Barbara Will-Wallace Evie Jones Jack & Sofia Bute The policies of the organization are posted on our website. There is a link at the bottom of the home page or you can go to the “More” page to read them or download a PDF version. The policies will be updated as needed. View BHH Policies Our Mission Statement Our mission is to inform and promote community health. To support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services. To provide palliative (Hospice) care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain. ___________________ To Make a Donation BHHF functions with donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution: • Check or cash please contact Laurie Collier, treasurer, at treasurer@boquetehealth.org • Click Here to make an online Paypal donation. • Direct Deposit to Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, Global Bank Checking Account #16-101-23071-6 _____________________ Contact Us 8am to 5pm M-F, 9am to 1pm Sat & Sun Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250 Blood Donor Program: WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 Email: info@boquetehealth.org Website: http://www.boquetehealth.org FacebookPage: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thank you
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    Don't miss the Boquete Health and Hospice Art Show and Auction. There will be a three day gallery show and a gala opening night.
  11. Donate to the Boquete Health and Hospice Art Show and Auction! Click Here to Donate
  12. View this email in your browser Table of Contents Letter From Your President Letter From the Editor The “Rhythms of Life” Selection Volunteer Spotlight – Dave & Erin Ross Being Prepared Workshop Upcoming Events General Meeting Agenda November 10th Volunteer Appreciation Lunch December 1st Elections & Proposed Slate of Officers January 13th October Events Recap Blood Drive October 9th Radio show with Dr. Shannon October 9th General Meeting October 13th Vaccinations Chris's Corner Tree of Life BHH Policies & Mission Statement Attention BHH Volunteers We are in desperate need for volunteers for the Equipment Team. You will be trained in the use of the equipment, check out and check in procedures (It's easy). You need to be able to lift 30lbs You don’t have to respond to every dispatch, only when it works with your schedule. If interested, Please call or email John Ferguson at 6613-9391 (WhatsApp) or email johnstpete@gmail.com Presidents Letter Help Needed: We have 75% of the slate of officers for next year filled: Vice President – Stacey Stich Treasurer – Laurie Collier Secretary – John Ferguson But…We still need a President. The President is the public face of Boquete Health and Hospice, and as such, presides over the Council Meetings, General Meetings and helps in any public relations events as needed. He or she is responsible for creating agendas, working on any new policies that may be needed and acting as a conduit between the Council and the organization along with contributing to the newsletter and maintaining the teams. BUT this job is not done alone. Whenever a request for help has gone out, there has always been someone there to help. If you think you may be interested in filling this position, please contact Lesley Hughes (lesleyahughes@gmail.com) to discuss further. Email Lesley Reflections From Your New Newsletter Editor In covering Boquete Health and Hospice (BHH) news, I had the honor of attending your October 2021 Zoom Council Meeting – incredible! Having been a part of many volunteer organizations over the years, the BHH organization, with the various events, opportunities, structure and just total professionalism is so very impressive. Your president Lesley Hughes had an extensive meeting agenda, ran the meeting efficiently and covered an immense volume of material in just under an hour. The services BHH covers – ranging from blood drives, to equipment lending, handling domestic violence calls, information workshops – what a fantastic community resource both for Panamanians and expats. Reports from various Council members also showed that BHH works well with other community organizations; Hospital Regional (blood drive), the Handicap Foundation (equipment), the mayor’s office, etc. There is even a committee to write thank you notes to donors – and what an important and often overlooked item! I am proud to be part of BHH, and look forward to working with all of you. Please do not hesitate to let me know of any feedback you have on the newsletter, and anything you would like to see us add. Thank you. Linda Jaekel Avery, Boquete Health & Hospice Newsletter linda@boquetehealth.org The Rhythms of Life: Releasing the Mind The Wellness Benefits of Mantra Did you know that singing a mantra to yourself has many benefits, even if you are not singing out loud? It can help to keep you rooted and mindful in the present moment, especially when one is out and about, away from one's usual sources of music. The Beatles' George Harrison stated that in his life he experienced "nothing higher" than the happiness he and John Lennon experienced from singing mantra. That's a compelling statement about the power of mantra from two men who were at the pinnacle of the music world with unparalleled success, fame, and fortune! And it certainly is intriguing that singing mantras made them happier than singing to thousands of adoring, screaming fans! This month the "Magic of Music" Team explores the world of mantra which can have positive effects on anxiety, stress, depression, burnout, anger and psychological distress, not to mention opening the doors to expanded states of consciousness! Also be sure to check out the wide variety of mantra playlists, from traditional to reggae and modern rock, from The Beatles to Gregorian Chant, to an album of mantras released last year by the Dalai Lama! You will also find two original recordings from your own "Magic of Music" Team! Full Article Those who volunteer with BHH are truly amazing. If you remember last December’s newsletter, the list went on and on. Or look at the roots and trunk of our Tree of Life. Dave and Erin Ross Core members of the Boquete expat community, have been active in BHH from its very onset in 2007. (Initially BHH started with a group of people bringing together their skills, who took turns presenting an area of their expertise to the group. Dave’s first talk was on end-of-life transitioning.) Erin joined the group and, as with all her various community projects, she gave BHH her enthusiasm, talent and energy. When Erin became the head of the newly created Ambassador Team, she was the perfect leader. As Ambassadors, Dave and Erin assemble and deliver Friendship Baskets that are given to people in need of a boost. The gift they select is always lovely, personal and perfect for the recipient - but their visits are the capstone in helping to raise the spirits of those in difficulty. They are selfless, compassionate, and have made significant contributions to the growth and development of BHH. Although Dave and Erin are planning to cut back on their activities and are stepping down from their roles with BHH, they will continue to create and deliver the friendship baskets. Their wonderful contribution over the years to the well-being of the people of Boquete is much appreciated! Thank you Dave and Erin!! Volunteer Now Sign Up for Being Prepared Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Nov 3rd Zoom Council Meeting – 10:00 a.m. Nov 10th General Meeting – 1:00 p.m. (In-Person only) Dec 1st Volunteer Appreciation Lunch - Tap Out at 1:00 p.m. Dec 28th FINAL DAY FOR NOMINATIONS for officers Jan 5th Planning Meeting Jan 12th ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS of officers November 10th General Meeting It is IN-PERSON only. Dr. Rod Gottula will give a half hour talk. Team Breakouts so the teams can develop their 2022 plans, and provide the council with their projected needs and planned activities. Volunteer Appreciation Lunch - final chance to sign up. Talk: Dr. Roderic Gottula Presenting “Blood Sugar – Highs and Lows” Hyperglycemia, and to a lesser extent hypoglycemia, are conditions that significantly affect mankind, especially with the significant increase in obesity. We will discuss both these conditions and provide information on methods to improve control of both. How can you help? What is YOUR passion? Be sure to come to the general meeting and join in. Teams are: Patient and Family Care Equipment Education Blood Drive Public Relations Meal Preparation & Delivery Ambassadors December 1st Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
 On December 1, 2021 BHH will celebrate our wonderful volunteers. The location is Tap Out Restaurant, the time is 1:00 p.m. Seating is limited to 50 people. Please see the link below to make your reservations and select your meal. Special drinks will be available for purchase. There is no charge for volunteers, and guests are $10.00. Volunteers are allowed one guest per volunteer. Sign Up for Lunch 
October Activity Recaps October 9th Blood Drive 
On Saturday, October 9, Boquete REALLY ‘Showed It’s Love’ at our most attended Blood Drive ever. 61 pints of blood were collected and since 1 pint can save 3 lives, we have impacted 183 lives. Thanks go to the Blood Bank Staff from Hospital Regional; Mayor Joswar Alvarado, our co-sponsor; the Matching Fund Donors who financially support our efforts; the BHH volunteer workers; and MOST IMPORTANTLY to the 61 people who willingly donated their precious blood to help others in the community. It may not be known that the blood drive operates under the control of the blood center at Hospital Regional (David). Any member of our community can call our blood line (see below) and request blood. BHH only acts as an intermediary (providing a location and assisting with logistics) between the Hospital Regional and our community. Without the blood drives that Hospital Regional and BHH sponsor, getting blood transferred from Hospital Regional to Mae Lewis Hospital or Chiriqui Hospital quickly would not be possible. In September our blood team received a call from a woman who was desperate to get some blood for a family member. We were able to supply her with the five (5) units that were required and a life was saved. This would not have been possible except for the generosity of those who donate blood and matching funds. The Matching Fund program was supported by donors who gave $1,557. Remember, if you or your loved one needs blood, send a WhatsApp text to 507 6590-2000, or call our main line 507 6781-9250. October 9th Radio Show with Dra. Shannon Tuer On October 9, Dra. Shannon Tuer hosted Kim Doherty and Lesley Hughes who explained the Being Prepared Program, its history, how it works in real life, the benefits from spending the time to organize and prepare for the unexpected (or expected) death of a loved one. The video of the show can be found on our website and on YouTube. Watch Video October 13th General Meeting There were 25 in attendance – both in person and by Zoom – and your officers updated members on different team reports and activities of the month. The Blood Drive topped all records and you can see their detail above. There may be some upcoming equipment shortages and the equipment team is working hard to tabulate and see if additional purchases may be needed. The meeting was capped off by a fabulous presentation by Dr. Rod Gottula on different forms of skin cancer and early warning signs. If you missed this – it will be posted on the website for your benefit. Vaccinations If you are vaccinated, please take a photo of your vaccination card and upload it to our website. It will be kept confidential, but will allow us to contact volunteers when we need members for people to do events in the community. If you are having trouble uploading it, email it to Lesley Hughes at lesleyahughes@gmail.com. Enter Vaccine Information This section will contain an interesting article that we found on the web with a teaser so you can see if you want to click through. Many places want you to sign up for their mailing list; however, we only choose links that let you bypass the sign up. Later, if you like the site, you can choose to sign up, but not necessary to read the article. These Bright Colors Lower Your Risk of Cognitive Decline Within virtually every fruit and vegetable lies a large and diverse group of phytochemicals (plant compounds) called flavonoids. Together with a separate group called carotenoids, they supply fruit and vegetables with their vivid colors. Flavonoids also have a number of health benefits. They’re potent antioxidants, defend against inflammation and help support immune function. Many population studies already show flavonoids help prevent the onset of heart disease, cancer and neurodegeneration. Recently, researchers at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health wanted to explore the effects of flavonoids on the brain. In particular they were interested in which of the six main subgroups of flavonoids protect the brain from cognitive decline and by how much. Go to full article About the Tree of Life The tree was created to honor our donors and volunteers. The roots are volunteers, the trunk is the council, the leaves are people who have donated $100 or more. The two color leaves are people who have donated for two years. The flowers are sponsors who donate $1000 or more. The Lilies are memorials to people who have passed. Family or friends have donated $200 or more to honor them. Add your leaf or flower or Lily. Click the button to make our tree grow. Thank you. Donate Click Here to Enlarge Tree Many Thanks to Our New and Repeat Donors Bill Hinrichsen Laurie & Kelly Collier Jo Clem Douglas & Linda Avery Susan and Price Perterson Lucie Conner and James McCallum John Ferguson & Craig Gatrel Trish and Brian Christofferson Dave and Erin Ross Steve Woodgate Carl & Sheila Strunk Ruby McKenzie John & Babbie Earle Charlotte Lintz Holly Carr Sandra Ullstrup The policies of the organization are posted on our website. There is a link at the bottom of the home page or you can go to the “More” page to read them or download a PDF version. The policies will be updated as needed. View BHH Policies Our Mission Statement Our mission is to inform and promote community health. To support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services. To provide palliative (Hospice) care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain. ___________________ To Make a Donation BHHF functions with donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution: • Check or cash please contact Laurie Collier, treasurer, at treasurer@boquetehealth.org • Click Here to make an online Paypal donation. • Direct Deposit to Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, Global Bank Checking Account #16-101-23071-6 _____________________ Contact Us 8am to 5pm M-F, 9am to 1pm Sat & Sun Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250 Blood Donor Program: WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 Email: info@boquetehealth.org Website: http://www.boquetehealth.org FacebookPage: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thank you
  13. Don't miss your chance to participate in this workshop. There are only 5 seats left and it is the last workshop for 2021! To sign up send an email to this address: prepared@boquetehealth.org
  14. You don't want to miss this workshop. To sign up send an email to: prepared@boquetehealth.org
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