Boquete Health and Hospice
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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
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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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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 StatementOur 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 PresidentDear 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 EventsFeb 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 RecapJanuary 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-playlistsAdditionally, 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 LifeThe 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 
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 -
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 StatementOur 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 CoordinatorsThe 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 TeamConcentrators and supplies were distributed to the community as necessary. Many people are breathing easier thanks to this team.
Blood Team168 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).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.
Video and Translation TeamOver the course of 2021, five patients have received 19 meals, courtesy of our volunteers (Jan. 1 to Nov. 30).
MealsThis 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.
Ambassadors TeamFour workshops were held and over 150 people from our community attended and learned the value of Being Prepared for Death here in Panama.
Being Prepared Team
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.
FinancesDonations 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
President – John Earle
Proposed Slate of Officers for 2022
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 OfficersBHH Council NoticesA 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 BHHbyBabbie & 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 EmailEnter 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 LifeThe 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-WallaceThe 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
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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
- 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)
- 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 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 BelowMore 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 LifeThe 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
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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
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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
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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.comPresidents LetterHelp 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.orgThe 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 RossCore 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 1stOn 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.
Volunteer Appreciation LunchSign Up for Lunch October Activity RecapsOctober 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 DeclineWithin 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 LifeThe 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 UllstrupThe 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.
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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
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You don't want to miss this workshop. To sign up send an email to: prepared@boquetehealth.org
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View this email in your browser Table of Contents - Donating Blood
- Vaccine Clarification
- New Video - We Need You
- Vaccination Upload
- October 13 General Meeting
- November 10 General Meeting
- Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
- Support Your Neighbors
- Proposed Slate of Officers
- Urgent Need PR Team Leader
- New Members
- Protecting Your Assets for Your Heirs
- Being Prepared Workshop
- Up Coming Events
- Boquete Shows its Love Matching Fund
- Barbara Lapid Volunteer Thank You
- The Rhythms of Life: The Wellness Benefits of Drumming
- Chris's Corner - 7 Healthcare Breakthroughs
- Tree of Life
- BHH Policies
- Mission Statment
Presidents LetterCLARIFICATION about our new Vaccination Policy: It seems that our recent policy on vaccinations has caused some confusion. It is only the meeting leaders and guest speakers and those who are meeting the public that must be vaccinated or provide proof of a negative covid-19 test. (For example: the trainers at the New Member Training, our volunteers working at the Tuesday Market table, those running our in-person meetings.) Those attending the meeting and sitting in the audience are NOT required to be vaccinated and do not have to provide proof of vaccination.
New Video – We Need You.
On September 4, 2021 Boquete Health and Hospice volunteers were guests on “Talking With Your Doctor” radio show with Dra. Shannon Tuer.
Lesley Hughes, Craig Gatrel, John Ferguson, Carmen de Botero and Erin Ross talked about what BHH means to the community and how our volunteers help. Craig discussed the role of the Patient Care Coordinator and how the volunteers help him do the job. John spoke about how the equipment is handled, sanitized, and how volunteers meet patients (or their families/friends) at the lockers, teach them how to use the equipment, and do a secondary assessment to make sure that all the needs are being covered. Carmen discussed the Blood Team and how the “blood bank” works and how volunteers are needed to both donate and to help things run smoothly. She also talked about the Translation Team and how important they are both in dealilng with patients and their families and their doctors and in translating information so those who don’t speak English can learn how to care for their loved ones. Erin talked about how the Ambassador Team supports all the meetings and events and (when we can get back to dealing with patients on a face-to-face basis) drive them to appointments, read to them, and help with errands. The Ambassador Team is also our “friendship” basket team. Friendship baskets are delivered to those patients that need to know they are not alone in what they are going through.
You can find this video on our website (Boquetehealth.org) or click below to view.View Video - We Need You Vaccinations
Please, Please, Please. If you are vaccinated, please take a photo of your vaccination card and upload it on our website. It will be kept confidential, but will allow us to contact volunteers when we need people to do events in the community. https://boquetehealth.org/vaccine-form So far, only 25 out of 120 members have registered. If you are having trouble uploading it, please email it to Lesley Hughes – lesleyahughes@gmail.com and she will get it entered.Enter Vaccine Information October 13 General Meeting
At the October General Meeting (Oct 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the Animales Building or via Zoom) Dr. Rod will be giving a short presentation on Skin Cancer.
November 10 General Meeting
The November 10 General Meeting will focus on an half hour-long presentation by Dr. Rod on Blood Sugar – Highs and Lows. Also, there will be time for a Team Meeting breakout. We would like the Team Leaders to meet with their teams and come up with their “wish list” for 2022.
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
On December 1 Boquete Health and Hospice will host a luncheon to thank all our wonderful Volunteers for everything they have done this past year. It will be held at TapOut, starting at 1:00 p.m. Seating is limited to 50. Volunteers are welcome to bring one (1) guest for a donation of $10.00.
There will be a cash bar, with two special drinks featured: Mimosa’s – unlimited for $10.00 and a rum cocktail for $5.00.
NOTE: BECAUSE THIS IS THE GENERAL MEETING, THERE WILL NOT BE A “REGULAR” GENERAL MEETING IN DECEMBER. THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING WILL BE JANUARY 12, 2022 AT 1:00 P.M.
Sign Up for Lunch Come Support your Neighbors
On Oct 9, from 7:00 a.m. to Noon, Hospital Regional, in concert with Boquete Health and Hospice, will hold its third Blood Drive of 2021. Please register to donate blood using the form on our Website. This page has links to the donation form: https://boquetehealth.org/downloads-&-forms. The team from Hospital Regional is in charge making sure that all sanitary and MINSA rules are adhered to.
Each unit donated can save up to three lives. If you are unable to donate, there is always the Matching Gift option.
Proposed Slate of Officers for 2022
Three volunteers have graciously agreed to fill the following posts:
Stacy Stich – Vice President
John Ferguson – Secretary
Laurie Collier – Treasurer
However, the position of President is still available. If you are interested, please let me know (lesleyahughes@gmail.com) so we can talk about the requirements. In general, the position is responsible for setting agendas, leading the Council and General meetings, helping to craft policies and acting as the public face of the organization.
Urgent Need
For PR (Public Relations) Team Leader. Responsibilities will include:
Gathering information for and editing the newsletter
Working on flyers for upcoming events
Please contact Lesley (lesleyahughes@gmail.com) for further information. This is a critical need.
Volunteer Now New Members
It is with great joy that I am introducing our new members. These 8 people attended the three day training help Sept 20, 22 and 24. Please join me in welcoming them:
Art Blevins
Bill Hinrichsen
Cindy Peek
David Yavitz
Jeff Flynn
Rod Gottula
Sandra Cripe
Stacey Stich
Protecting Your Assets
for Your Heirs
- by Martine HeyerA free PDF addition to "Being Prepared for Life and Death in Boquete"After spending several interesting weeks helping the daughter of an Ex-pat navigate the various Panamanian boondoggles in order to settle the family estate, I decided to write "Protecting Your Assets for Your Heirs".
This document is meant for all Ex-pats who have property and or bank accounts in Panama and whose heir(s), do NOT live here, and are not in possession of Panamanian residence visa’s, and thus do not have banking rights in Panama. The heir(s) are here strictly as tourists and they travel on their own money and their own time to sort an estate.
Yesterday as I was talking to my lawyer, he said that: in his practice of Estate Planning, he has noticed, that most of his clients spend a lot more time planning their vacations, rather than spending much time planning their Estate. That is normal, since planning for pleasure is more enjoyable that planning for dread. But planning on who will inherit can be fun, and planning so your heirs will actually receive their inheritance without too many headaches, should be important to you.
So if you own real estate in Panama, you might find opening the PDF that is attached worthwhile in order to make sure you can avoid probate, and make things as easy as possible for your heir(s).
If none of your assets are in Panama, and you should know, that cars are not an asset, then this PDF has no relevance for you.
Good luck, enjoy and stay well. .Download Protecting Your Assets PDF Sign Up for Workshop Upcoming Events- Oct 6 - Zoom Council Meeting – 10:00 a.m.
- Oct 9 – "Boquete Shows its Love" Blood Drive - 7 a.m.to 12:00 p.m.
- Oct 13 - General Meeting – 1:00 p.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85821230348
- Oct 27 – Being Prepared Workshop 11 – 12:30 at the Animales Building
- Nov 3 - Zoom Council Meeting – 10:00 a.m.
- Nov 10 - General Meeting – 1:00 p.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85821230348
- Dec 1 – Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
- Dec 28 – FINAL DAY FOR NOMINATIONS
- Jan 5 – Planning Meeting
- Jan 12 – ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS
Starting with the September General Meeting, we are continue with the hybrid format (in-person for those who wish to attend, and via Zoom for those who prefer not to attend)..
Join the Matching Fund Now "Behind the Scenes Volunteers” Thank you!
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 ourTree of Life. Barbara Lapid 
Barbara Lapid has been a volunteer with BHH for 12 years! Her work includes being a Hospice Nurse, a Hospice Team Leader and a Hospice Case Manager. Those hours spent with a hospice patient are vitally important, and no one publicly sees the care and love she has given to these patients and their caregivers.
In addition, Barbara has represented BHH at our Tuesday Market table for the past 5 years.She will test your blood pressure for free and is our public face for information on our organization. People come with questions all the time and on several occasions she has noticed some cautionary signs after checking a blood pressure and directed folks to seek medical treatment. She has our Being Prepared Guides available for anyone stopping by for a $10 donation. Come and say “hi” and know that she is smiling back under her mask!
Barbara, we deeply appreciate your work over these past 12 years and thank you for your commitment to serve.
The Rhythms of Life: The Wellness Benefits of DrummingDo you move to the beat of your own drum? If not, maybe you should! This month the Magic of Music Team takes a look at the health and wellness benefits of drumming. No prior musical experience is required! And there are currently opportunities right here in Boquete to participate and reap the health and wellness benefits!
Check out "Thriving Through the Rhythms of Life: The Wellness Benefits of Drumming" for more information including links to music and playlists, information about local drumming events, and a brief review of the specific health and wellness benefits as revealed by recent scientific research.
Full Article
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 are 7 of the most exciting breakthroughs in healthcare today
Go to full article About the Tree of LifeThe 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 business sponsors who donate $100 or more every year. The Lilies are new. They 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 
Over the past year there have been questions about WHY Boquete Health and Hospice was doing things in a certain way. The policies of the organization have now been 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 To Make a DonationOur Mission
Our mission is to provide palliative care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain; to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services.
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 by check or cash contact Laurie Collier, our treasurer, at lojocollier@yahoo.com to arrange a time and place to pick up your donation.
You can also click here to make an online Paypal donation.
Make a Direct Deposit to: Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, Global Bank Checking Account #16-101-23071-6
For more information visit our website: http://www.boquetehealth.org
We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks Please Like our page and share the contents with your family and friends.
Confidentiality
All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence.
To Contact Us
Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250
8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday Please!
Blood Donor Program:
WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday, Please.
Email: info@boquetehealth.orgFreely send this to anyone, use any part.
Our mailing address is:
info@boquetehealth.org
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Boquete Health and Hospice · Bajo Boquete · Boquete · Panama
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Donating blood saves lives!
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View this email in your browser Table of Contents - New Policies
- Mask Policy
- Vaccination Policy
- Amendments to the By-Laws
- Looking for Volunteers
- Slate of Officers for 2022
- Help Needed
- Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
- Upcoming Events
- Beverly Stearns
- Arnold's Thoughts on COVID19
- Food Is Caring
- Being Prepared Conversation
- Shake Your Booty!
- Chris's Corner Rosacea
- Tree of Life
- BHH Policies
- Mission Statment
Presidents LetterNew Policies
To all our BHH members:
In response to the continued spread of the Covid-19 virus and its emerging variants in Panama, Boquete Health and Hospice has established a policy requiring that member volunteers who interact with the community, other team members or patients, to be fully vaccinated or have started the vaccination process by having completed the first dose of a two dose regimen against the Covid-19 virus. On August 7, 2021, the BHH Council passed the following policies with the intention of further protecting our members and our community.
Mask Policy
Effective immediately – all Boquete Health and Hospice personnel MUST wear masks continuously when representing BHH. A BHH volunteer will be appointed at every in-person meeting/event to ensure that all safety precautions are followed. If anyone notices that masks are not being worn or are being worn incorrectly, please ask the person not complying to adjust their mask.
Vaccination Policy
Any volunteer of Boquete Health and Hospice representing and interacting with members of the community must be vaccinated. This applies to the Patient Care Coordinators, Equipment Team, Ambassadors, CPR Instructors, anyone leading a meeting or a class and the people representing BHH at the Tuesday Market. (These are just examples).
Starting with the September 2021 New Member Training Class – all new members must be vaccinated.
A dispensation can be granted by the Council upon receipt of a negative antigen test performed within the previous 48 hours of the event and written test results provided prior to the event. At the start of the event, the unvaccinated person must disclose to the audience that they are unvaccinated but have tested negative for the virus.
Our website (boquetehealth.org) has been updated to allow for the entry of the vaccine information. Please go to the Information tab and the form to enter your vaccine information. It is on that page. If you are vaccinated, it is important that we have that information..
Your prompt compliance is deeply appreciated as is your understanding of these new policies.
We are viewed in the community as a health care organization. We must be held to a high standard. Those current members who do not interact with the community or represent BHH, are grandfathered in and will not be required to be vaccinated.
Enter Vaccine Information Amendments to the By-Laws
Two Amendments were proposed to the Council and were approved. They were then presented to the membership at the August 11 General Meeting where both amendments were approved unanimously.- Amendment 1: All occurrences of the word “Administrator” in the By-Laws shall be replaced with “Patient Care Coordinator”.
- Amendment 2: Article III, Section 1: The members of the Foundation Council shall consist of the President, Vice President Secretary, Treasurer, Past President and the three (3) most senior Patient Care Coordinators. All Patient Care Coordinators shall be appointed by the Foundation Council and are voting Members of the Foundation Council.
On Saturday, September 4, BHH will be joining Dra. Shannon Tuer on her morning radio show and on Thursday, December 9 at 11:00 a.m. BHH will be doing a presentation at the Thursday Talks at the Library. The purpose of these two presentations is to:
What BHH is.
What BHH means to the community
How volunteers can help - Teams
Equipment
Blood
Ambassadors
Translation
Applications for membership will be available at the December 9 talk. Anyone interested in volunteering prior to that can complete the application on the BoqueteHealth.org website.
Slate of Officers for 2022
As of this newsletter the following is the proposed slate for 2022:
President ___________________________
Vice President _______________________
Secretary John Ferguson
Treasurer Laurie Collier
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 two-fold: Support the President and lead the Education Team. 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. As Team Leader for the Education Team, the Vice President will arrange for the short medical trainings that happen during the General Meetings and help coordinate any other educational trainings that we provide (CPR, for example).
If you are interested in helping the organization by filling either of these two positions, please email Lesley Hughes (lesleyahughes@gmail.com)
Help Needed
Another place where we could use your help is on our Training Team. We recently lost our Training Team Leader and would like to fill this vacancy as soon as possible. This person would be responsible for coordinating the annual (or semi-annual) new member training. If you can help us with this, please email Lesley Hughes. (lesleyahughes@gmail.com).
Our Meal Team is now under the able leadership of Leslie Sherling. Please respond whenever she asks for your help in providing meals to members of our community.
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
On December 1 there will be a Volunteer Appreciation event. At this time we are not sure where, whether it will be a brunch or a lunch or the times. But it will take place. Please put it on your calendar. Seating will be limited and reservations will be required. If you would like to help thank our wonderful volunteers, please email Lesley Hughes (lesleyahughes@gmail.com). More information will be forthcoming.
If you are making donations to BHH via PayPal
With the change in Treasurer, it is necessary to go into your PayPal Account, delete the current transaction, go to the BoqueteHealth.org website and re-submit the donation. This way it will go to the proper person.Upcoming Events- Sept 1 – Zoom Council Meeting
- Sept 8 – General Meeting (Hybrid) – 1:00 p.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85821230348
- Sept 20, 22 and 24 – Training for new members at the Animales Building
- Oct 6 - Zoom Council Meeting – 10:00 a.m.
- Oct 9 – "Boquete Shows its Love" Blood Drive - 7 a.m.to 12:00 p.m.
- Oct 13 - General Meeting – 1:00 p.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85821230348
- Oct 27 – Being Prepared Workshop 11 – 12:30 at the Animales Building
- Nov 3 - Zoom Council Meeting – 10:00 a.m.
- Nov 10 - General Meeting – 1:00 p.m. - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85821230348
- Dec 1 – Volunteer Appreciation Brunch
- Dec 28 – FINAL DAY FOR NOMINATIONS
- Jan 5 – Planning Meeting
- Jan 12 – ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS
Starting with the September General Meeting, we will continue with the hybrid format (in-person for those who wish to attend, and via Zoom for those who prefer not to attend).."Behind the Scenes Volunteers” Thank you!
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 ourTree of Life. Beverly Stearns
14 years ago, a group of far-sighted individuals got together with the vision of helping the residents of Boquete deal with end-of-life issues. They worked for over a year to forge the Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, and after all the groundwork was laid, they held their first training class – in effect they had to train themselves. Beverly Stearns was one of these individuals.
Since that time, Beverly has been the driving force behind our recruitment and training activities. When a person indicated interest in joining the organization, Beverly would meet with them, learn about their passions, likes and how they saw themselves fitting into BHH. Beverly would also explain the philosophy of BHH, the absolute necessity of confidentiality and all the various ways a person could contribute.
Once a year she would take on the huge task of training these prospective new members. Beverly would meet with various people to revise the training manual, organize the dates, location and times for the training, keep in contact with the new members, organize the agenda, and hold the training, which took place over three days.
Boquete Health and Hospice has grown into the diverse and caring organization because of all these years of hard work that Beverly has given.
In addition to recruiting, vetting and training new members, Beverly has managed the Meals Team (most recently with the able assistance of Evie Jones). When alerted by the Patient Care Coordinator that a person was unable to cook for themselves, Beverly would send out emails to her team asking for them to provide a meal and to deliver it. When Covid became a problem, her team figured a way to deliver meals without entering a person’s home or coming in contact with them, thereby protecting everyone from possibly contracting the illness. While this was less than optimal, the program kept working.
Beverly has recently left the organization and her absence is missed. BHH is very grateful for all the hard work Beverly has done and all she contributed. Thank you Beverly.Arnold's Thoughts on COVID 19
Panama is reporting a downward trend in Covid 19 cases. In the last 2 weeks Covid 19 cases have declined 33.6 %. According to Minsa 3,187,124 people have been vaccinated or 58% of the population. While this is quite promising, there are still over 10,000 active cases with over 500 people hospitalized. With the arrival of the Delta variant, there is increased urgency to accelerate vaccine doses.
I would like to share an excellent article by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Author - Arnold Schwarzenegger
I said this to someone in the comments, but I think a lot of you need to hear this. I always say you should know your strengths and listen to the experts. If you want to learn about building biceps, listen to me, because I've spent my life studying how to get the perfect peak and I have been called the greatest bodybuilder of all time. We all have different specialties. Dr. Fauci and all of the virologists and epidemiologists and doctors have studied diseases and vaccines for their entire lives, so I listen to them and I urge you to do the same. None of us are going to learn more than them by watching a few hours of videos. It's simple: if your house in on fire, you don't go on YouTube, you call the damn fire department. If you have a heart attack, you don't check your Facebook group, you call an ambulance. If 9 doctors tell you have cancer and need to treat it or you will die, and 1 doctor says the cancer will disappear, you should always side with the 9. In this case, virtually all of the real experts around the world are telling us the vaccine is safe and some people on Facebook are saying it isn't. In general, I think if the circle of people you trust gets smaller and smaller and you find yourself more and more isolated, it should be a warning sign that you're going down a rabbit hole of misinformation.
Some people say it is weak to listen to experts. That's bogus. It takes strength to admit you don't know everything. Weakness is thinking you don't need expert advice and only listening to sources that confirm what you want to believe. 
There is no better way to show you care than with food. Sometimes the simplest food can be what matters the most. Here at Boquete Health & Hospice we are fortunate to have a wonderful Meal Team that provides meals to patients on a short-term basis. Often a patient may have had a fall or is returning from a hospital stay and needs help preparing meals for a few days. When this happens, our Meal Team jumps into action and is ready to assist. We work with the patient and caregivers to identify dietary restrictions, food likes or dislikes, and a delivery schedule.
The Meal Team Member typically provides a meal that is enough for two meals (leftovers are a great thing!). The word “provides” means that the meal can be homemade if the Team Member enjoys cooking, it can be take-out or it can be from one of our local companies that provides already prepared meals. When ready, the Team Member delivers the meal to the patient’s doorstep.
The Meal Team is always looking for more members since a patient may need several meals over a period of a few weeks. If you would like to occasionally assist in providing a meal, the Meal Team would appreciate having you volunteer. Remember, you have the freedom to cook, provide take-out or deliver a prepackaged meal…whatever works best for you. For more details and to volunteer, please contact Leslie at 6482-0073 or brubble51b@gmail.com.Being Prepared Conversation
with Kim Doherty
Recently, Lesley Hughes, President of Boquete Health and Hospice sat down with Kim Doherty to talk about her experiences with the Being Prepared program. Kim has first-hand experience with using the Guide and is a staunch advocate for its use.
When her husband became ill, she purchased the Guide, decided how it would work best for her, but delayed filling it out for several months. When her husband became critical, she spent the time to complete it. When he died, she was able to just hand it to the doctor, because it had all the information that was needed. The step-by-step instructions about what to do and when allowed her to get things done in the correct order, which minimized her stress. In effect, she was able to deal with her emotions without worrying about the bureaucratic requirements.
View the video below
MINSA guidelines were followed during the taping of this conversation. 
Shake Your Booty! Wellness Benefits of Moving to the Music!Research by neuroscientists at Columbia University indicates that when we move in tune with the rhythm of music, the positive effects of the music are amplified. By synchronizing our movements with the beat, we are doubling the pleasure and the benefits. As we grow older we suffer a decline in mental and physical fitness, which can be made worse by conditions like Alzheimer's disease. A new study, published in the journal "Frontiers in Human Neuroscience", shows that older people who routinely partake in physical exercise can reverse the signs of aging in the brain, and dancing has the most profound effect. Dancing uniquely combines stimulation from physical and mental effort as well as social interaction. In addition, of the different types of physical exercise studied, it was only dancing that led to improved balance.
This month, the Magic of Music Team summarizes the research on music and movement. And we provide information on how you can get involved to reap the wellness benefits, including information on local dancing opportunities that are currently available right here in Boquete. Even shy couch potatoes can boogie to the music and promote their own health and wellness! Click the button below to find out moreFull Article
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.Rosacea
This common skin condition can affect anyone. Learn the signs and treatment options. For years, flushing of the face has been a persistent issue for many. When, though, does that redness indicate a deeper condition?Rosacea is a skin condition causing redness of the face. In some cases, blood vessels and small, red bumps are also visible. It presents differently for everyone and can develop at any age. "Rosacea is often misdiagnosed, and many don't seek treatment because they don't realize it's rosacea," says Dr. Jeffrey Fromowitz, a dermatologist based in Boca Raton, Florida.
Flare ups may occur randomly, lasting for weeks or months before going away. And while it can affect anyone, it's most commonly seen in:- People ages 30-60.
- Women.
- Individuals with light skin.
- Those with a family history of the condition.
Go to full article About the Tree of LifeThe 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 business sponsors who donate $100 or more every year. The Lilies are new. They 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 
Over the past year there have been questions about WHY Boquete Health and Hospice was doing things in a certain way. The policies of the organization have now been 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 To Make a DonationOur Mission
Our mission is to provide palliative care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain; to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services.
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 by check or cash contact Laurie Collier, our treasurer, at lojocollier@yahoo.com to arrange a time and place to pick up your donation.
You can also click here to make an online Paypal donation.
Make a Direct Deposit to: Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, Global Bank Checking Account #16-101-23071-6
For more information visit our website: http://www.boquetehealth.org
We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks Please Like our page and share the contents with your family and friends.
Confidentiality
All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence.
To Contact Us
Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250
8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday Please!
Blood Donor Program:
WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday, Please.
Email: info@boquetehealth.orgFreely send this to anyone, use any part.
Our mailing address is:
info@boquetehealth.org
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To all our BHH members and our community friends:
In response to the continued spread of the Covid 19 virus and its emerging variants in Panama, Boquete Health and Hospice has established a policy requiring that member volunteers who interact with the community, other team members or patients to be fully vaccinated or have started the vaccination process by having completed the first dose of a two dose regimen against the Covid-19 virus. On August 7, 2021, the BHH Council passed the following policies with the intention of further protecting our members and our community.
New Policies
Mask Policy
Effective immediately – all Boquete Health and Hospice personnel MUST wear masks continuously when representing BHH. A BHH volunteer will be appointed at every in-person meeting/event to ensure that all safety precautions are followed. If anyone notices that masks are not being worn or are being worn incorrectly, please ask the person not complying to adjust their mask.
Vaccination Policy
Any volunteer of Boquete Health and Hospice representing and interacting with members of the community must be vaccinated. This applies to the Patient Care Coordinators, Equipment Team, Ambassadors, CPR Instructors, anyone leading a meeting or a class, the people representing BHH at the Tuesday Market. (These are just examples).
Starting with the September 2021 New Member Training Class – all new members must be vaccinated.
A dispensation can be granted by the Council upon receipt of a negative antigen test performed within the prior 48 hours of the event and written test results provided prior to the event. Prior to the event, the unvaccinated person must disclose to the audience that they are unvaccinated but have tested negative for the virus.
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View this email in your browser 
Table of Contents - President's Letter
- Our New Treasurer
- Help Needed
- Data Base Project
- Coming Events
- Behind the Scenes Volunteers
- New Volunteers
- August Meeting
- Music Plus Meditation
- Chris's Corner - 4 Warning Signs of Melanoma
- Tree of Life
- BHH Policies
- Mission Statment
Presidents Letter
Our New Treasurer
It is with great happiness that we all welcome Laurie Collier as interim Treasurer. Laurie, who served previously as Treasurer, Vice President and President, steps in for Merl Will-Wallace whom we are sad to see leave BHH and Boquete.Help Needed
There are two other positions that will need to be filled starting in January, and your help is needed. President and Vice President. Both Lesley and Liz are stepping down.
The job of Vice President is two-fold: Support the President and lead the Education Team. 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. As Team Leader for the Education Team, the Vice President will arrange for the short medical trainings that happen during the General Meetings and help coordinate any other educational trainings that we provide (CPR, for example).
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.
If you are interested in helping out with either of these posts, please contact Lesley to arrange a meeting to discuss further. lesleyahughes@gmail.com
Database Project
After much discussion, it was decided to expand the project and move it from Excel to Access. A consultant has been hired who will work with us to make a more robust system. It is hoped that the new system will be up and running by October.
Coming Events:
Blood Drive – October 9
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch - December 1
Art Auction Febuary 4 - 6"Behind the Scenes Volunteers” Thank you!
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. 
Another of our volunteers that is always working to make sure that our General Meetings and special events flow smoothly is Cat Vann. Cat has led the Logistics branch of the Ambassador Team for many years. She arrives early to set up the chairs and tables, makes sure that the walk-through mat, thermometer and alcohol gel are available and that, if needed, the sound system is set up.Cat is also involved with the veterinary clinics, so she has shown her heart is geared for helping everyone (people or pets). BHH is extremely fortunate to have Cat as one of our wonderful volunteers. 
New Volunteers
BHH welcomes Kim Doherty and Sandra Cripe to the BEING PREPARED Team! The July 21st Workshop guided 35 attendees through the step-by-step process of getting your affairs in order. It is never to late the get started. Being Prepared Guides are available at our BHH Tap Out Tuesday Market table and Mailboxes, Etc. For a $10 donation.August Meetings
The BHH Council Meeting will be held on August 4 at 10:00 a.m. via zoom.
The BHH General Meeting will be held on August 11 at 1:00 p.m. It will be a zoom only meeting.
Music Plus MeditationWhat happens when two popular stress-reduction, relaxation and wellness techniques are combined? Research indicates a synergistic effect. This month, the Magic of Music Team takes a deep dive into music-based relaxation and stress-management using mindfulness meditation. The article includes a simple four-step method that you can use to try this out for yourself! Included are links to videos produced by the Magic of Music Team to guide your exploration of music-based meditation. Full Article Guided Meditation 
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 just to read the article.4 Warning Signs of Melanoma
That Are Easy to MissThis dangerous skin cancer can take on odd forms and pop up in unexpected places Nearly 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma each year, making it one of the most common types of cancer in the U.S., especially among older adults who have endured decades of sun exposure and whose immune systems aren't as robust as they once were. And while melanoma can be deadly, it is highly curable if caught early.
Do you know what to look for? The hallmarks of melanoma are asymmetrical or rough-looking moles that are not defined by a border. A spot on the skin that continues to grow in size or change is another indication, and a once-monthly body scan is an easy way to keep tabs on any of these concerning characteristics. But there are also some more unusual signs that could signal the presence of the skin cancer.
"Melanoma is such a rule breaker,” says Elizabeth Buchbinder, M.D., an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Little moles can cause big trouble, and new spots can grow and spread quickly, she adds. “And so knowing what to look out for, it's super important.”
Here are four warning signs of melanoma you need to know about so that no spot goes unnoticed.Go to full article About the Tree of LifeThe 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 business sponsors who donate $100 or more every year. The Lilies are new. They 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 
Over the past year there have been questions about WHY Boquete Health and Hospice was doing things in a certain way. The policies of the organization have now been 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 To Make a DonationOur Mission
Our mission is to provide palliative care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain; to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services.
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 by check or cash contact Merl Will-Wallace,our treasurer,at dharma49@icloud.com to arrange a time and place to pick up your donation.
You can also click here to make an online Paypal donation.
For more information visit our website: http://www.boquetehealth.org
We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks Please Like our page and share the contents with your family and friends.
Confidentiality
All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence.
To Contact Us
Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250
8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday Please!
Blood Donor Program:
WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday, Please.
Email: info@boquetehealth.orgFreely send this to anyone, use any part.
Our mailing address is:
info@boquetehealth.org
Thank you
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Sign up for the Boquete Health and Hospice Being Prepared for Life and Death by emailing to the address below:
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View this email in your browser Table of Contents - World Blood Donor Day
- Being Prepared for Life & Death Workshop
- Letter from the President
- Thanks to Dr Rod
- Covid Be Safe Plea
- Behind the Scenes Volunteers
- Respiratory Team
- Music for Relaxation & Stress-Relief
- Call for Art
- Chris's Corner - Exercises to Reduce Falls
- Tree of Life
- BHH Policies
- Mission Statment
World Blood Donor Day - June 12, 2021
We are so grateful that we collected 55 pints of blood - each pint can help save 3 lives, so 165 people in our community will benefit.
The Municipio de Boquete brought a van of 12 donors to the blood drive….all young, first time donors. Our goal will be to increase the number of young, Panamanian donors as we educate them on the need for blood and the value of helping others.
THANKS Go To:- Our valuable Blood Donors. We collected 55 pints of blood!
- The Blood Bank staff from Hospital Regional who efficiently registered, tested, interviewed and then withdrew the blood – all following the MINSA guidelines.
- Our BHH Volunteers and nurses who worked the event – Char L., Linda R., Mary Y., Cat V., Noemi M., Laurie C., Carmen R., and Luis B.
- Our Corporate Donors and Supporters – Piero with Milky Way Creamery, and Melissa Chong, our landlord for our storage units at the Alto Dorado stores.
- Our Matching Fund Donors – who pledged $ for each pint collected. With their generosity, BHH received $1,300 to continue our work for the Boquete Community. See the Tree of Life below.
Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the blood drive.
Many thanks to regional hospital blood bank staff. 
Being PreparedWorkshopTake the FEAR out of an unexpected health crisis!Join this valuable discussion
Wed., July 21st
11:00 - 12:30pm
Animales Event Center - Ruby McKenzie Clinic
NOW is the time to:- Provide peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.
- Navigate the paperwork that will put you in legal compliance with Panama.
- Think about the difficult questions on your end-of-life care.
- Get your affairs in order
Bring your hard copy of the Being Prepared Guide, and your questions.
(Guides are available at our BHH Tap Out Tuesday market table, at Mailboxes, Etc., or at the event for a $10 donation.)
For reservations email:prepared@boquetehealth.org
Following Minsa’s guidelines: masks, social distancing, hand and foot sanitizing, and temperature check.
Sign Up for Being Prepared Presidents LetterThank you to Dr. Rod Gottula
The Boquete Health and Hospice General Meeting for June 9 was held via zoom, and Dr. Rod Gottula gave a great presentation about Medical Cannabis. While not as many attended as I had hoped, those that did learned a lot. Thank you, Dr. Rod.
Covid - Be Safe Plea
To those who have gotten both of their Pfizer shots – double congratulations. To those who have gotten their first AstraZenica vaccine, congratulations, and to those who have not, I am sure you have your reasons.Please remember that even having received your vaccination(s) you are still not 100% protected from getting the virus. 65 people working at Hospital Regional (44 of which had been fully vaccinated) became sick with Covid-19. The vaccine worked in that none of the employees became sick enough to be admitted to the hospital
Please, stop and think about yourself, your family, friends, neighbors, and the stranger you meet on the street. In the last month, the trend of the number of new cases in Panama has risen and Chiriqui has been responsible for approximately 30% of them.
If you haven’t been vaccinated, please consider doing so. If you have, please remember you can still get the virus and/or pass it on to others.“Behind the Scenes Volunteers” Thank you!
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 ourTree of Life.
I want to put the spotlight on our creative director – Chris McCall. Chris works behind the scenes to make our websites, newsletters, and flyers really special. All it takes is for someone to say, “Hey Chris, how about __________” and it happens. He will create new pages, work on forms to collect information, create artwork for flyers and website, he has created fund raising events, he makes sure the technological issues are handled so the hybrid meetings can take place, communicates with our members, and so much more. BHH is exceptionally lucky to have him as one of our star volunteers. Thank you, Chris. 
Many people here in Chiriqui have this respirator.
On June 14th, 2021, Philips Respironics announced that they voluntarily recalled a number of their non-invasive ventilation devices and mechanical ventilators. Full details about the recall are here.
To keep you better informed, we have set up a resource page providing you with updated information and next steps regarding any affected devices. Visit our resource page here.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we continue to work diligently to ensure your safety and provide you with vital information concerning this recall.Learn More 
Respiratory Team Update
One of our volunteers (Luis Botero) has solved one of the respiratory teams’ biggest headaches – how to fix oxygen concentrators when they break. Luis found a company in Panama City that will fix them as well as a smaller company in David.This will enable us to have more working concentrators available for the community. Another Luis (Luis Acre) is providing transportation to get the broken concentrators to Panama City and the repaired ones returned to Boquete. Within the next couple of months, hopefully all will be working and available.
Thank you, Luis B. and Luis A.,July’s MeetingsThe BHH Council meeting will be held on July 7 at 10:00 a.m. via zoom.
The BHH General Meeting will be held on July 14 at 1:00 p.m. It will be announced closer to the date whether the meeting will be in-person or a hybrid.Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illnesses worldwide. Anxiety affects up to 28.8% of the population in Western countries, and its incidence appears to be increasing.Music for Relaxation and Stress-ReliefWhen it comes to lowering anxiety, the stakes couldn't be higher. Stress either exacerbates or increases the risk of health issues like heart disease, obesity, depression, gastrointestinal problems, asthma, chronic pain, depression, burnout, addictions, and others. More troubling still, a recent paper out of Harvard and Stanford found health issues from job stress alone cause more deaths than diabetes, Alzheimer's, or influenza. High levels of stress are costly in monetary terms, too. Researchers found that stress-related health problems could be responsible for between 5 to 8 percent of annual healthcare costs in the U.S. which amounts to about $180 billion each year in healthcare expenses. Research shows that most of the time on a single occasion, music has a direct effect in reduction of stress and anxiety. Music has also been shown to beneficially affect stress-related physiological, as well as cognitive, and emotional processes. Thus, the use of listening to music as an economic, non-invasive, and highly accepted intervention tool has received special interest recently in the management of stress and stress-related health issues. Check out the new article “Music for Relaxation and Stress Relief” by the Magic of Music Team for more details, recommendations, suggestions, and playlists that you can utilize to relax your way into better health!Music List and Article 
....Click Here to Donate
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.Simple exercises to reduce fall risk in seniorsMore than 1 in 4 older adults falls each year, often resulting in serious injuries that cause loss of independence and mobility.
Regularly doing fall prevention exercises reduces fall risk by specifically strengthening key muscles and joints to improve balance.
We found a helpful free video from two physical therapists that teaches how to do 10 simple fall prevention exercises.
No equipment is needed, so they can easily be done at home. Check out these 10 simple exercises for your older adults or even for you!Go to full article About the Tree of LifeThe 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 business sponsors who donate $100 or more every year. The Lilies are new. They 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
Laurie & Kelly Collier
Susan & Price Peterson
Linda & Douglas Avery
Sandra Ullstrup
John Ferguson & Craig Gatrel
Peter Sterling & Sally Zigmond
Jacqui Davis
Dave & Erin Ross
Trish & Brian Christofferson
Leigh Gray
John & Babbie Earle
Larry & Kat Clayton
Carlotte Lintz
Merl & Barbara Will-Wallace
La Casa del MedicoOver the past year there have been questions about WHY Boquete Health and Hospice was doing things in a certain way. The policies of the organization have now been 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 To Make a DonationOur Mission
Our mission is to provide palliative care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain; to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services.
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 by check or cash contact Merl Will-Wallace,our treasurer,at dharma49@icloud.com to arrange a time and place to pick up your donation.
You can also click here to make an online Paypal donation.
For more information visit our website: http://www.boquetehealth.org
We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks Please Like our page and share the contents with your family and friends.
Confidentiality
All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence.
To Contact Us
Hospice/Health: (507) 6781-9250
8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday Please!
Blood Donor Program:
WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday, Please.
Email: info@boquetehealth.orgFreely send this to anyone, use any part.
Our mailing address is:
info@boquetehealth.org -
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View this email in your browser 
General Meeting
Boquete Health and Hospice
ZOOM ONLY - NO IN PERSON
Date Wednesday, June 9th
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Click Below to Join
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83479158890
Meeting ID: 834 7915 8890
Due to the recommendations from MINSA, the General Meeting for Boquete Health and Hospice will be a ZOOM only meeting.Join the Meeting 
If you don't know how to use zoom watch this short video MEETING AGENDA
Our mailing address is:
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You have two ways to support the World Blood Donor Day 2021!
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BHH Blood Drive THIS SATURDAY, October 21st, from 7 am to noon at Amigos de Animales
in Boquete Health and Hospice
Posted
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