Boquete Health and Hospice

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Best Wishes for the Holidays • Letter from the President • Accomplishments for 2020 • 1st General Meeting • Important Notice • Upcoming Community Events • New Team Structure • Thank You to Our Volunteers • Help Needed • Blood Drive Feb 6 • Tree of Life • Magic of Music • Happy New Year • Our Mission SENDING YOU THE VERY BEST WISHES FOR A JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Letter from the President In January, 2020 the Council met and decided on some goals for the year. Little did we know that Covid would strike one month later and everything would be changed. Still, through the work of many, most of the goals were met. The Council will be meeting again on January 6 to talk about the goals for 2021. If you have any ideas/suggestions, please email them to someone on the Council. BHH Accomplishments for 2020 Abbreviated training program mapped out and initial training session held (Feb 28) RN Party held to learn how this special group wanted to contribute. Training of new members (16) held Panel Discussion video completed One interim administrator found Being Prepared materials updated and printed (400 printed so far) Administrator interview video completed and on web site. Mini Training Session held for 6 members. Respiratory Repair Person found Donation of Surgical Masks, N95 Masks, Face Shields and Disposable Gowns to CSS (Policlinicia) and Alfa Clinic, Clinicia Especializada and Dra. Boya Blood Donor Caravan (March 7, 2020) Donation of $300 to the New Blood Donor Center in David Initiation of the Tree of Life program to thank donors and volunteers. Donation of $1,314 worth of food and clothes to those affected by Hurricane Eta Basic First Aid training held at Valle Escondido Silent Art Auction First Aid at home presentations held at the Library Nov 19 and Dec 10 BHH Holds Its First Zoom General Meeting – Dec. 10 After almost 10 months, and in order to give a wrap-up of the year, BHH attempted its first ever Zoom Meeting. 16 volunteers and guests attended. A summary of the years activities was given by Bev Tyler (Administrator), Sela Burkholder (Equipment), Merl Will-Wallace (Respiratory) and Lesley Hughes (General) and volunteers were thanked. The proposed slate for next year was presented and floor nominations were requested. Floor nominations will close on Dec. 30. The method of holding the election was announced: Ballots will be emailed to the membership of January 7 and must be returned to Laurie Collier (lojocollier@yahoo.com) by midnight January 9. This method was selected to allow those who are concerned about attending an in-person meeting in January to still have a voice in selecting the Council. NOTE: Starting with the January 13 General meeting, the monthly meetings for BHH will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Animales Building starting at 1:00 pm. Upcoming Community Events: January 12 – ACCB Tuesday Talk at the BCP Theater – Joanie F and Char L will give a presentation of Being Prepared. It is required that a hard copy of the Guide be with the attendees. It starts at 10:30. January 13 – First in-person General Meeting to be held at the Animales Building. It starts at 1:00. Limited to 50 people. MINSA guidelines will be followed: Masks required, temperatures will be taken, Alcohol Gel will be available, social distancing will be maintained. February 4 – BCP Community Chat - the third presentation of First Aid at Home will be held at the Library. Merl W. and Lesley H will be giving the talk. It starts at 11:00. Limited to 25 people. Reservations required – email to Chats@Eventsboquete.org. MINSA guidelines will be followed: Masks required, temperatures will be taken, Alcohol Gel will be available, social distancing will be maintained. February 6 – Gift of Life Blood Drive held at the Animales Event Center from 7 am – 1 pm. To donate please contact WhatsApp 507-6590-2000 or email blood@boquetehealth.org. MINSA guidelines will be followed: Masks required, temperatures will be taken, Alcohol Gel will be available, social distancing will be maintained. February 18 – BCP Community Chat at the Library – Joanie F and Char L will give a presentation of Being Prepared. It is required that a hard copy of the Guide be with the attendees. It starts at 11:00. Limited to 25 people. Reservations required – email to Chats@Eventsboquete.org. MINSA guidelines will be followed: Masks required, temperatures will be taken, Alcohol Gel will be available, social distancing will be maintained. NOTE: Starting with the January 13 General meeting, the monthly meetings for BHH will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Animales Building starting at 1:00 pm. Stay tuned, dates may change due to MINSA restrictions on gatherings. New Team Structure In the last newsletter, the new team structure was announced. Below are the goals for each team. At the January General meeting, volunteers will have the opportunity to review the list members on each team and sign up/recommit to the team(s) of their choice. The goals for each team are: Administrator – act as the first point of contact for people needing some form of care. Provide information and communicate needs to appropriate team. Hospice Patient and Family Care – provide assistance for patients and families needing end-of-life care. Blood Donor – Coordinate blood requests for patients needing blood and the hospitals/doctors and manage the blood drives. PR/Marketing – Create and publish the monthly Newsletter, flyers for events. Maintain our social media presence. Maintain our web site and video page. Translator – provide translation services for patients and teams as needed. Equipment – provide equipment (both respiratory and medical) as directed by Administrator. Training/Recruitment – meet and vet potential members and provide training. Home Comfort – As requested by Administrator, provide meals and music to patients. Ambassadors – be the public face of Hospice. Staff the tables at events, answer questions or direct people to the person that can answer them, sell BHH products. Write thank you notes to donors. Set up for meetings as needed. Education – provide community education through various programs – CPR, Caregiver support, Being Prepared. Thank You to our WONDERFUL volunteers who have done so much during this year: Council Lesley Hughes Liz Bolt Merl Will-Wallace John Ferguson Laurie Collier Administrators Bev Tyler Craig Gatrel Equipment Sela Burkholder Michael Gallawa Judy Sacco Cat Vann Kat McKay Luis Botero Sally Zigmond Respiratory Merl Will-Wallace John Ferguson Luis Botero Mike Gallawa Sally Zigmond Meals Evie Jones Beverly Stearns Sarah Terry Cat Vann Kay Wade Mona Portalance Nancy Halbert Joan Schuetz Nairn Kennedy Molly Traynor George Huff Linda Hart Jane Ruth Karen Hill Sandy Dillon Linda Sanchez Joanie Feuerstein Craig Gatrel John Ferguson Dee Horn Hospice/Home Care Barbara Lapid Babbie Earle John Earle Being Prepared Joanie Feuerstein Char Lintz Genie Vidal PR/Marketing Laurie Collier Chris McCall Trish Christofferson Betty Landis Lorraine Handler Rod Parker Penny Barrett Blood Donor Carmen Restrepo Marjorie Ramos-Sarner Translator Luis Botero Carmen Restrepo Music Val Strahl Beverly Stearns Ambassadors Erin Ross Kay Wade Penny Barrett Shirley Maffett Cat Vann John Sandeen CPR Team Linda & Bob Archer Jayden & Caden Boss Ivonne Cummings Sherry Sherritt Lesley Sherling Merl Will-Wallace Babbie Earle Luis Botero Marsha Bowman Tita Hamm Denese Rodgers Lindy Colenda Lisca Bruna It is with great sadness that we announce that Sela Burkholder has informed the Council that she will be give up her leadership role on the Equipment Team. For so many years Sela has made sure that the equipment is ready and available for loan to whomever needs it. This has included repairs, maintaining inventory, tracking which patient has which piece of equipment and for how long, providing month-end reports of the team’s activities. She has been available whenever her team or the Administrator had questions and always with a good spirit and heart. Sela, THANK YOU! It is with great happiness that we announce that the team leadership role for Equipment will be filled by co-leaders Sally Zigmond and John Ferguson. The Council is very happy to have these two excellent volunteers step in. Sally and John, THANK YOU! HELP NEEDED: Boquete Health and Hospice is compiling a list of those people in the community who are qualified as Grief and/or Stress councilors. It has been suggested that there is a need for this service. BHH will put together a list and provide it to those who are interested or in need. These are NOT recommendations, and it is up to the person requesting the information to follow up. Click Here to Enlarge Tree Many Thanks to Our Donors Who Have Helped Fill Our Tree of Life With your generous donation of $100+, you get a leaf on our Tree of Life! Help us Grow Our programs will continue in 2021; hospice care, education events, medical equipment, help and blood are available to all. We are grateful for your caring donations! Thank you! Boquete Health and Hospice Magic of Music Our music team includes Val Strahl, Beverly Stearns. This team will provide music to any of our BHH patients who request it. We will ask you to tell us about your favorite music, and then create a personalized playlist for you. This is a lending program and we will lend you a small digital music player so that you can listen to this personalized music using earbuds. We could lend you cd’s if you prefer. Music can bring back memories, take our mind off our worries and pains and sometimes change our moods too. This program serves all patients recovering from illness, surgery or a fall, but it may especially help those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. The Magic of Music to help our patients Our 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. 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 by check, cash or direct deposit to our Global Bank account, please contact Merl Will-Wallace, our treasurer, at dharma49@icloud.com” 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.org

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88214423656

Please note the correct date as displayed on the flyer. Click here to connect to the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88214423656

That was just pointed out to me. I need to make a correction. The meeting is Thursday, December 10. Thank you!!

Please join us for our first meeting since February on Zoom! Zoom meeting

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Letter from our President • Relief Donation • Meeting Update • General Meeting Date Change • First Aid Class • BHH Updates Our Teams • Testimonial • Being Prepared • Blood Donor Alert • Gift of Life Blood Drive • Tree of Life Update • Our Mission Letter from Our President Panama Health and Respite Foundation Wow – what a month (and year)! I live in Los Naranjos and up to the 20th of November, we got 21 inches of rain. Last year we only got 4 inches for the entire month. Please remember that those who were devastated by Hurricane Eta still may not have a home, enough to eat, clean water or dry clothes. Relief Donation With such a great need by so many people due to the heavy rain, and bearing in mind that BHH has been the recipient of some recent, very generous donations, the Council unanimously approved the spending of funds to purchase food, necessities and clothing. Laurie C. and I purchased over $1,300 of food (from Romero and Ivans) and clothing (from the Fundación Pro-Integración). At the Handicapped Foundation we cleared 3 racks of clothes (shirts, sweaters, jackets) and 3 bins of jeans and pants). Eight large bags were filled with clothes. The following day 24 cases of water were also donated. This was made possible by generosity of our members and partners. While shopping, it was wonderful to see so many people and organizations doing the same thing – buying for those who had lost so much. We truly live in a wonderful community of caring people. Meeting Update After many months of not having General Meetings, we are going to try something new. On December 10, at 9:00 a.m. there will be a Zoom meeting open to the membership. The Zoom meeting ID will be sent soon. On January 13 (hopefully) at 1:00 there will be an in-person meeting at the Animales Building. It will be limited to 50 people, social distancing will be observed, masks will be required, and alcohol gel will be available. In other words – all MINSA guidelines will be observed. The purpose of this meeting is to elect the Council for 2021, review and re-commit to the various teams and talk about what BHH hopes to accomplish in 2021. Proposed Slate: The proposed slate for 2021 is: President: Lesley Hughes Vice President: Liz Bolt Treasurer: Merl Will-Wallace Secretary: John Ferguson Past President: Laurie Collier A proposal will be made following the election to approve Bev Tyler as Administrator. If anyone wishes to run for any of these positions, please send an email to info@boquetehealth.org. Nominations will close as of Dec. 30, 2020. Change in Meeting Days One other change – Our general meetings will now be held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, instead of the 2nd Thursday. The dates in 2021 will be: January 13 February 10 March 10 April 14 May 12 June 9 July 14 August 11 September 8 October 13 November 10 (I am aware it is Los Santos Uprising day) December 8 (I am aware it is Mother’s day) First Aid Class On November 19, BCP hosted their first Community Chat and Boquete Health and Hospice was honored to be asked to be their first presentation. Lesley Hughes and Merl Will-Wallace gave a 90-minute presentation of how to handle emergencies at home. It covered medical emergencies – Diabetes, Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Respiratory issues. Also discussed were Trauma emergencies, Falls, Bleeding, Burns and Fractures. 20 people attended and all MINSA guidelines were followed: Temperatures were taken, social distancing was maintained, masks were worn and alcohol gel was used. A second session is planned for December 10 at the Library starting at 11:00. Reservations are required so in order to reserve a place, send an email to: chats@eventsboquete.org BHH Updates Our Teams Also in January, a new team structure will be put in place. There are many members who are on teams that do closely related activities. We currently have 15 teams and under the new plan that would be reduced to 9. The new structure will be: Equipment to be made up of the current Equipment and Respiratory Teams, with co-Team Leaders Sela B. and Merl W. This combined team is responsible for distribution of equipment to patients as authorized by the Administrator, maintaining equipment cleanliness and locker organization. Blood Donor – Team Leader Carmen R. This team is responsible for leading the Blood Drives and coordinating blood requests. Marketing/PR – Team Leader Laurie C. This team is responsible for publishing our monthly newsletter, creating and publishing special event flyers and maintaining our social media presence. Ambassadors to be made up of the current Ambassadors/Logistics/Thank You Teams – Co-Team Leaders Erin R, Cat V and Kay W. This combined team is responsible for the interface between BHH and the public. Patient Care – Team Leader Babbie E. This team is responsible for coordinating patient and family care for any hospice patients admitted to the program. Translator – Team Leader Carmen R. This team assists any other team and patients with translation. Training/Recruitment – Team Leader Beverly S. This team is responsible for recruiting new members, vetting them, and coordinating the annual training program. Home Comfort to be made up of the current Meals and Music Teams – co-Team Leaders Beverly S. and Val S. This team is responsible for coordinating meals and music as suggested by the Administrator. Education to be made up of the current CPR/Being Prepared/Community Education and Dementia Support Teams – Team Leader Liz B. This team is responsible for the educational activities of BHH. A Heartfelt Testimonial for Being Prepared I cannot applaud BHH enough for their Being Prepared Guide. Preparing for health issues or end of life in the US is challenging enough as I experienced it with the death of my oldest son and both parents. In the US familiarity with customs and government requirements is much easier than living in another country where you are unsure about policies and procedures. I purchased the guide early in 2020 before the complications of Covid struck the world and before I knew illness would fall between our four walls and envelope our lives for six months. I began working through the booklet familiarizing myself with its contents and eventually compiled a notebook that would prove to be invaluable when my husband, Bud died on October 2. Having the knowledge of how to deal with death and illness and the requirements following a death in Panama made the process less complicated and stress free during a time when my mind and emotions were running in a million different places. I thank BHH and its volunteers for walking beside me on this difficult journey and for providing me a guide that assisted in bringing calm closure to the wonderful life I shared with my husband. I highly recommend the services of BHH and especially encourage you to purchase the Being Prepared Guide. Kim Doherty Boquete Resident Get Your PDF Guide - Donate Quote from a recent recipient of our Blood Donor Program “I have heard about the blood bank before, just never knew I would need it!” UPDATE: 130 pints donated in 1 year, 390 lives saved! Click Here to Enlarge Tree Many Thanks to Our Recent Donors Linda Archer Anne Harper Our 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. 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 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.org 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.

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Filling a Critical Need • Letter from our President • Save the Date • Gift of Life Blood Drive • Being Prepared • Blood Donor Alert • Tree of Life Update • Our Mission Filling a Critical Need for Our Community Boquete Health and Hospice maintains a small fleet of oxygen concentrators, both in home and portable, to provide short-term assistance to expats and Panamanians in the Boquete District. The availability of these units in Chiriqui is extremely limited and can be very costly, even for short periods. To meet that need Boquete Health and Hospice provides oxygen concentrators for patient coming home with severe lung or heart problems that require continuous oxygen. On average Boquete Health and Hospice has six to ten oxygen concentrators placed in the community for those in need. While these units are pretty sturdy they are frequently stressed by the fluctuations in power, both high and low, that regularly occur in the district. Because of this stress our units last only one to two years of continuous use and sometimes shorter. Boquete Health and Hospice must regularly buy additional machines from the United States and have them shipped down to Panama in an effort to keep a sufficient number of oxygen concentrators to meet the requests from the community. Just this week we purchased four more concentrators so that they could come in a container of medical equipment paid for by the Thomas McCormack Foundation. Thank you Tom for the lift!! Boquete Health and Hospice must also buy disposable oxygen products to provide a connection from the concentrator to the patient. These are one-time use and must be replaced for the next patient. On an average Boquete Health and Hospice will spend approximately $3,000 to $5,000 per year to continue to provide this valuable service to our community. Your donations are critical to assure that the ongoing need for oxygen in the home, at no cost to the patient or family. This service is available in the short-term until other arrangements can be made or the patient no longer has a need. Thank you for your donation!!!! Letter from Our President Panama Health and Respite Foundation It is with a heavy heart (but also an extremely grateful heart) that I report that our sister Hospice organization in Panama (Panama Health and Respite Foundation) located in Coronado has decided to cease its activities. It was reported that there were difficulties recruiting and keeping volunteers. As part of the disbanding, they have donated to Boquete Health and Hospice $2,500.00, as well as some equipment. They even offered to donate some of their music to our new Music Program. We are extremely sorry to see them go, but are so touched that they thought of helping us. They have our best wishes for the future. We Are Back!! BHH has returned to the Tuesday Market at TapOut. Barbara L. is presiding over our table there, answering questions, providing our Being Prepared guides and our purple bags. Due to the MINSA restrictions, we are not able to offer the Blood Pressure service as before. Please look for us and stop by to say “Hi”. First Aid Class Boquete Health and Hospice held their first Basic First Aid class on Oct. 21 at Valle Escondido. 8 members of the community were in attendance. These wonderful people are all members of the Health Committee and have committed to being available to help those residents who need emergency care until the ambulance arrives. MINSA guidelines were strictly observed. Temperatures were checked, masks and alcohol gel were used and social distancing was observed. General information for medical emergencies (cardiac issues, strokes and diabetes) were covered as was basic trauma care. The medical equipment available in the medical bags was reviewed. Valle Escondido has two well-stocked medical bags that should enable care to be rendered until the ambulance arrives, possibly saving lives. Then the group worked on “What would you do” scenarios to get them thinking about what to do when an emergency occurs. The Valle Escondido Homeowners Association very generously donated $100 to BHH. Photos of the class were taken by Rod Parker. Donations Over the last few weeks, BHH has been the recipient of several donations from businesses and organizations. These will be shown on our Tree of Life as flowers, separate from the leaves. Being Prepared Our wonderful guides are now available in three locations – as a PDF file (for a minimum $5.00 donation via PayPal on our website), from MBE as a hard copy and from the Tuesday Market at TapOut as a hard copy. The hard copies are available for a minimum donation of $10.00 It is time well spent to read the guide and complete the forms. No one knows when an emergency or illness will strike and having this information available will make a terrible situation slightly less stressful. Save the Date Notice No, not a wedding, but the very first BCP Community Chat featuring us! Boquete Health and Hospice! We’re very honored to be the first Boquete Charity to be featured in the new BCP Community Chats to be held in the Boquete Library. Called “First Aid at Home”, our presentation will focus on how you can recognize and provide first aid to an injured friend or loved-one with just the things you have around the house. Seating is limited to 25 and reservations will be required. More information on how to sign up for this valuable training session will be coming soon but mark your calendars now. If we fill up, we will hold another BCP Community Chat Training for BH&H members and the Boquete Community Event: First Aid at Home Date: November 19 Location: Boquete Library - Top Floor Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Topic: How to Recognize an Emergency and What to Do About It. Diabetes Heart Attacks Strokes Respiratory Issues Falls Fractures Burns Presenters: Merl Will-Wallace Lesley Hughes Only 25 spaces are available. Reservation information will be available soon. MINSA GUIDELINES WILL BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED. MASKS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES. SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE OBSERVED. ALCOHOL GEL WILL BE AVAILABLE. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TAKEN. Get Your PDF Guide - Donate Click Here to Enlarge Tree Many Thanks to Our Recent Donors Panama Health and Respite Foundation Gomez Tomiczek Law Firm Patricia Price Peterson Foundation (Penny Barrett) Valle Escondido Homeowners Association Tom and Linda McCormack Foundation Our 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. 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 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.org Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Letter from our President • Urgent Blood Need • Art Auction Thank You • Friendship Basket • Covid Warning • Stop Procrastinating • Gift of Life Blood Drive • BHH Tree of Life • Our Mission Letter from the President The last few weeks have been amazing! Two absolutely wonderful things have happened… The first is Boquete Health and Hospice has received an incredible donation from the Patricia Price Peterson Foundation (courtesy of Penny Barrett) of $2,800. 2020 has been a very challenging year as the services we provide to the community as well as our fund-raising events have been severely limited. These funds will be used for the purchase of additional equipment - hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, wheelchairs, and walkers as well as to cover some of our annual operating expenses - rent, utilities and training members of the community (when the health situation permits). BHH has many very generous donors to whom we are extremely grateful. For this year, Penny is one of our super donors. The second wonderful happening was our first virtual Silent Art Auction. Over the course of one week, people had the opportunity to bid on 14 works of art by some of Boquete’s extraordinary artists: Barbara Will-Wallace, Sally Foulke, Tatiana Arefina-Armitage, Sally Zigmond, Nancy Gallawa and MaryEllen Watts. To these incredibly talented artists we humbly say THANK YOU!!! Eight very generous bidders allowed BHH to raise $1,050 to help cover expenses. Alan Cheek Laurie Collier Cheryl Crabbe Babbie Earle John Ferguson Jennifer Pascal Nancy Pettersen Sandra Jean Wolf To these wonderful people, we also say THANK YOU!!! Three of BHH’s volunteers worked behind the scenes to provide an exceptional auction. I wish to personally thank Laurie Collier, Chris McCall and Merl Will-Wallace for the many hours spent in creating this auction. It couldn’t have happened without you. Now – for the more serious topic: Monday, September 28 saw the opening of restaurants and bars in our area, as well as more retail shops. It is my sincere hope that people remember that the virus is still among us. Over the last week, Chiriqui has been responsible for a large percentage of the new cases of Covid-19. For example, on September 22, there were 474 new cases in the country, and 104 of them were in Chiriqui. It is important to remember that our volunteers are restricted from entering a home where a known case of Covid-19 is present. While we want to be able to help, we can’t take the risk of passing the virus onto others in the community. Please use common sense with the relaxing of restrictions. Wash your hands or use alcohol gel, wear a mask whenever possible, and practice social distancing. Go See the Art Auction Friendship in a Basket During the last few weeks, BHH has put a new program into practice. One of our members has past experience with a Hospice Program in Florida. He shares our newsletter with them, and passes onto the Council innovative ideas from them. One of the ideas we have embraced is “Friendship in a Basket”. When one of our members knows of a client that is in a tough medical situation and needs a bit of encouragement, our Friendship Team (headed by Beverly Stearns) with advice from a family member or close friend, produces a basket filled with goodies – baked goods, sweets, puzzles, music, whatever will give the patient a feeling that they have friends that care and are not alone. As of the end of September, two baskets have been delivered and the reaction has been most heart-warming. Friendship is always welcome. If you would like to be on this team, please contact Beverly. COVID WARNING Extreme caution needed!! After being cooped up for so many months, there is natural tendency to get a bit lazy and relaxed. Now is NOT the time to get lackadaisical. With restrictions being lowered and most of the restaurants, bars and shopping centers opening, we can expect a resurgence in new Covid 19 cases. Because many people will feel like Covid 19 is in the past, we see people in our area outside without masks and some people with half masks ie: nose out of mask. Since Covid seems to spread via air, folks who wear half mask are putting you and themselves in danger. This is in fact the time we must all be most vigilant. It is likely that 14 days from now will be the highest danger because many new cases will have occurred. CDC found restaurants and bars as hot spots for covid transmission because of people not wearing masks. Consider the statistics in countries in Europe as well as the USA that have removed quarantine. Wearing a plastic face shield (available at the Dollar Store) in addition to your mask is very important while shopping in crowded stores for protection from people who are not compliant. If you plan to eat out, please use extreme caution. It seems like the danger of the pandemic has passed. Chris and I feel we have become complacent. We find ourselves not being vigilant about hand cleaner when getting in the car and often not always wearing our face shields. Use extreme caution and stay healthy and safe. Chris and Lorraine Get Your PDF Being Prepared Guide Now Click Here to Enlarge Tree NEW DONORS – NEW LEAVES for the Tree of Life Auction High Bid Winners Alan CheekNancy PettersenCheryl CrabbeJohn FergusonJennifer Pascal Add Your Name Donate Now Our 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. 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 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.org Please Donate Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thank you

View this email in your browser Go See the Art Auction Extra Benefit Winning Bids Over $100 get a Leaf on The Tree of Life Our 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. 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 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

Click Here to Join the Bidding

Start bidding now-Click Here

Start Bidding Now-Click Below Auction Bidding

You won't want to miss this opportunity to buy fine art and to support the work of Boquete Health and Hospice! For an auction preview, click on this link: Auction Preview

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Letter from our President • Art Auction Coming Sept 13 • BHH Tree of Life • Blood Drive Postponed • Being Prepared Radio Interview • COVID-19 Survivors • Our Mission Letter from the President BEING Prepared: I hope you all were able to listen to the BoqueteNOW! Talk Radio show hosted by Al Stefanelli about Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death. In case you missed it, it can be found on our website in the gallery, near the bottom of the page https://boquetehealth.org/gallery or near the bottom of this newsletter. Team Leader Joanie Feuerstein was joined by Char Lintz and Bev Tyler, Nurse Administrator. They did a wonderful job explaining why Being Prepared is such a critical part of living in Boquete. We are all aware that living in a different country comes with the occasional challenge, but when those challenges involve emotions, they are even harder to overcome. This guide provides the foundation for being able to handle the fundamentals easily. If you haven’t listened/watched the video, please do so. You may obtain a PDF copy of the guide by clicking the donate button just after the video in this newsletter or on our website. A minimum donation of $5.00 is requested or by going to MailBoxes Etc. where you may get a bound copy for $10.00. Many people who got the PDF then went and bought the bound copy because it keeps everything together. Boquete Health and Hospice Tree of Life The BHH Tree of Life is growing! Since we announced its “planting”, we have received several donations. I wish to personally thank everyone who has contributed to our growth, is contributing today, and may contribute in the future. Without your support, whether it is monetary, or time and talent, we could not provide the support and equipment to our community. Volunteering at Boquete Health and Hospice Several people have expressed interest in joining BHH. We are keeping a list and when we have enough people to have a class (probably our two-hour Introduction to Boquete Health & Hospice which may be held via Zoom) we will contact those people. If you are one of those interested, please complete the application on our website. It will be forwarded to our teams and someone will contact you. We are all looking forward to being able to meet in person. This *&^*^$^*(YT%$$^%#&((%% Virus Yes, I know. It has been going on for such a long time and everyone is tired of all the restrictions. But now is not the time to start cutting corners. BHH is still not visiting people in their homes for one reason – we don’t want to spread the virus. Our volunteers can not be 100% sure that they are not carrying the virus into someone’s home and our patients are a very much at-risk population. We also cannot be sure that a patient who has been in either a hospital or a nursing home hasn’t brought the virus home with them. PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU ACT Go See the Art Auction Click Here to Enlarge Tree NEW DONORS – NEW LEAVES for the Tree of Life Bond and Luan McCamy Marne Coggan & Debbie Friedenberg Brian Armitage Artists that have donated art for the Auction: Tatiana Arefina-Armitage Sally Foulke Nancy Gallawa MaryEllen Watts Barbara Will-Wallace Sally Zigmond Add Your Name Donate Now Being Prepared Radio Interview It was another gorgeous sunny morning in Alto Boquete on August 7. 2020. It was hard to believe it was rainy season in Boquete, yet such is our blessing of sun-filled mornings with refreshing afternoon rains here… in ‘almost Paradise. ‘ Then it happened! The purple cloud of Boquete Health and Hospice (BHH) arrived at the radio station which had been converted to an outdoor venue in compliance with social distancing. With radio host Al Stefanalli leading the purple cloud on Boquete Now! 103.3 FM, no hurdles hindered the purple cloud of Bev Tyler, Char Lintz and Joanie Feuerstein from sharing about Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death. We were able to explain what BHH does and is doing under current restrictions. Al was a swell interviewer to give us the floor (wink-wink.. grass and dirt) to inform our community about why someone needs to not only purchase our BHH Guide at Mailboxes Etc., but also the incentive for every foreigner living here full time, part time or visiting, to take personal responsibility and learn how the medical system in Boquete functions differently than in our passport countries. The BHH team explained what it meant to be in legal compliance with Panamanian law regarding hospitalizations and end of life treatment, plus the practical steps to take before and after a death here. The purple cloud shared that this detailed and professionally printed ‘reader-friendly’ guide is also beneficial for our Panamanian neighbors whom we also help and serve as well as Expatriates. Contact numbers for ambulances, hospitals, clinics, doctors, funeral homes, and embassies can benefit every resident of Boquete. After 45 minutes of Q and A, our broadcaster host Al endorsed this BHH Guide as the best he has ever seen to help people navigate medical systems. Thanks to Al and Radio Chiriquí, that broadcasts community news in English every Friday at 10 am. Viewing the video of this very informative and fast moving radio broadcast (much easier to watch than listen☺) is available on You Tube at Boquete Now Talk Radio! (August 7, 2020). It’s a comprehensive overview of what every foreigner living here needs to know and is also quite helpful for our Panamanian friends as well. The video leads you to the BHH Guide that helps you step by step to get your affairs in order, brings you into legal compliance with the laws of Panama, provides the forms needed and gives you and the family/friends you leave behind, peace of mind. And then, GO and LIVE out with JOY the abundant life and the very reason you moved to Panama. Don’t cheat yourselves out of the joy! What kind of legacy will you leave behind? Don’t leave a mess behind for your family/friends overseas. Bound guides are available for a minimum donation of $10 at Mailboxes Etc. or the PDF is available for $5 at boquetehealth.org. We at BHH are The HELPING HANDS and CARING HEARTS to our Boquete Community, and serving you with gladness. Get Your PDF Being Prepared Guide Now COVID-19 Survivors: You´ve got a lot of fight in you. Donate your plasma. If you have fully recovered from COVID-19, you may be able to help patients currently fighting the infection by donating your plasma. Because you fought the infection, your plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies. These antibodies provided one way for your immune system to fight the virus when you were sick, so your plasma may be able to be used to help others fight off the disease. Individuals must have complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days prior to donation. A negative lab test for active COVID-19 disease is not necessary to qualify for donation. How Can I Donate Convalescent Plasma? Several resources are available regarding options to donate convalescent plasma in your area. To learn more and find the site nearest you: Hospital Rafael Hernandez (Hospital Regional): 777-8817 Or contact our blood donor team at WhatsApp 6590-2000 **Note: Women who have ever been pregnant can't donate plasma for Covid-19 patients. According to medical experts, women, during their pregnancy develop antibodies – called human leucocyte antigens (HLA) – against the father´s genetic material. In fact, greater the number of successful pregnancies a woman has, greater the HLA count. Once developed, they are present in the blood forever. Though HLA antibodies are not harmful to the person who made them, if transfused to another person they can cause a rare but serious complication in the recipients. Since Covid-19 patients requiring plasma transfusion usually have their lungs weakened by the virus, transfusing the plasma of a woman who´s been pregnant in her life could prove fatal. Our 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. 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 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.org Please Donate Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thank you This email was sent to chrismccall@me.com why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Boquete Health and Hospice · Bajo Boquete · Boquete · Panama

Be sure to tune in to Radio Chiriqui at 10 am on August 7th to listen to a broadcast by Boquete Health and Hospice to gain information about being prepared for life and death in Boquete. Radio Chiriqui

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Letter from our President • Being Prepared on Radio Chiriqui • BHH Tree of Life • Blood Drive Postponed • New Blood Donation Center in David • Importance of getting Printed Being Prepared for Life & Death • Our Mission Letter from the President There is a saying – “Déjà vu all over again. Due to the increase in covid-19 cases in several provinces, including Chiriqui, we are facing a return to restrictions on our movements. It is important to understand that until a vaccine is available, staying in our homes and not spending time with our friends is another step we can take to control this illness. Initially there were three cases of the virus in Bajo Boquete and 14 in Alto Boquete. All of these people recovered and there were no further infections because they stayed home and quarantined. With the easing of restrictions, someone contracted the virus somewhere and brought it to our towns. Now more people are ill and according to my latest information (July 25) there are: 15 cases in Bajo Boquete 22 cases in Los Naranjos 42 cases in Alto Boquete 7 cases in Palmira 3 cases in Potrerillos 2 cases in Potrerillos Abajo 2 cases in Caldera 1 case in Jaramillo 84 cases in Dolega These are cumulative figures, and don´t reflect those who recuperated, or are hospitalized, in home isolation, or deceased. I am sure you join me in wishing these people a speedy recovery. Let us do our part by staying home unless absolutely necessary, wearing face masks, washing our hands and, when going out, social distance from our friends and neighbors. Boquete Health and Hospice is continuing to furnish equipment as needed. No home visits are allowed, both to protect our patients and our volunteers. No community events are on the calendar at this time. If you think there is something BHH can do for you, please call our Nurse Administrator who will be glad to assist you. Please be aware that there is a critical shortage of blood in Chiriqui. There is a new blood donation center in David. If you wish more information about donating, please WhatsApp our Blood Donor Team at 6590-2000 and someone will answer your questions. I hope you will maintain a positive outlook on life and know we will see each other again soon. "Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death" LIVE Friday, August 7, 10-11am on 103.3 Radio Chiriqui or listen online www.radiochiriqui.com. . Boquete Health and Hospice Helping Hands and Caring Hearts serving our community. Boquete Health and Hospice Tree of Life Boquete Health and Hospice wants to publicly recognize our extremely dedicated volunteers and the very generous donors. The Tree of Life shows the volunteers as the roots of our organization, the trunk which contains the names of our Council and our Team Leaders and the leaves which contain the names of our donors. All three components are necessary for a tree (or organization) to survive and flourish. Our volunteers give of their time and talents in order to serve our community. The Council and Team Leaders are the leadership that makes the organization function effectively. Our donors provide the financial resources that enable BHH to continue to provide services. Those who have donated $100 or more within the last 2 years are listed on the leaves. Future donations that meet the threshold of $100 will be listed as well. If you wish to join our group of volunteers, please complete the application form on our web site Click Here Thank you to everyone who has helped make our tree strong and beautiful. Donate Now NEW OPTION FOR BLOOD DONORS A new blood donation center opened June 18, 2020 in David - thanks to the David Rotary Club, MINSA, CSS and other generous donors. It is operated by the Blood Bank facility of Hospital Regional Rafael Hernández, but offers the comfort of a separate clinic. There is no need to enter the hospital and risk exposure to COVID-19. Boquete Health and Hospice is proud to support this new clinic through a working relationship and a donation of funds. You may contact us to arrange a blood donation at this facility. WhatsApp 507-6590-2000 or email blood@boquetehealth.org Why You will Want to Buy the Printed Copy of Being Prepared When the new “Being Prepared in Boquete Guide” first became available, I got my pdf version. I was excited to receive this well prepared and very valuable reference material. Many excuses later I had yet to print the 36 page booklet, let alone begun compiling the necessary information. Since this was not working for me,I decided to get the nicely printed and organized booklet for $10 - one for me and one for a friend. So glad I did!! My friend is so extremely appreciative for her copy. If you have procrastinated as I did, I encourage you to get your copy. JUST DO IT! Get Your PDF Guide - Donate Farmacia Revilla has new hours and are now making home deliveries. Here is the information: Delivero Revilla 6579-9714 9 AM to 6 PM Lunes a Sábado New hours: 7:30 AM to 6:45 PM Closed Domingo Our 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. 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 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.org Please Donate Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thank you

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Now What?.... • Letter from our President • BHH AMAZING Volunteers • New Blood Donation Center in David • Importance of getting Printed Being Prepared for Life & Death • Magic of Music • Our Mission … Now What?? Boquete has been living under quarantine and curfew for a long time. Now that things are beginning to open up again, you may ask … Now What? It is vital to remember that with the freedom to move about comes a responsibility to protect yourself and those around you. The Covid-19 virus still exists, and with the opening of businesses and the increase in travel, the possibility of exposure has increased. Wear your masks, keep distance, wash hands and have sanitizer with you when you go out. Boquete has been very fortunate to only have three cases of the virus. The citizens have been careful about social distancing, wearing masks and hand-washing. Now, more than ever, these behaviors need to be continued. Encourage those who work for you to follow these guidelines. Remind your friends and family members to be careful and, be a leader, in acting responsibly. If everyone acts with caution, our freedoms will continue to grow. Letter from the President Progress is being made. We are now able to move about the community at will, without time restrictions and with our family members. Over the past several weeks, Bajo Boquete has seen three cases of the Covid-19 virus and Alto Boquete has had 14 (12 within the same family). This is truly amazing and is a testament to the ability of people to abide by the rules. BHH is also abiding by the rules. At the June 3 Council Meeting, the attendees preferred to hold a virtual meeting rather than attempt an in-person meeting. This was such a wonderful example of responsible thinking and consideration for others. Boquete Health and Hospice will continue to abide by the current rules. When allowed, we will return to holding our general meetings at Amigos des Animales, observing social distancing, use of hand sanitizer and face masks. Three months after all quarantines/curfews end is when we will return to making home visits and holding our community education programs. Yes, this is an abundance of caution, but our volunteers and community are important and we care about keeping everyone healthy. The Magic of Music The Magic of Music Team is ready, willing and able to provide music and a player to suit anyone’s musical tastes. If you or someone you know would benefit from this new program, please contact our administrator at 6781-9250. How Boquete Health and Hospice can help NOW BHH is here for you. With the virus still active and no vaccine available, we are being extra cautious with our volunteers and are asking for our patients’ help and understanding. The ONLY services we have stopped are the home visits, meetings and trainings. We are still loaning equipment and acting as intermediaries for those who need blood. Boquete Health and Hospice AMAZING Volunteers There is a “rule” that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the members of an organization. The volunteers of Boquete Health and Hospice are an exception of this “rule”. While some of our teams have had a “vacation”, other teams have continued to work and serve our community. The Nurse Administrator, Bev, has been handling all the phone calls and juggling people’s requests for services. The Equipment Team has been busy providing and picking up equipment from those who need it. Sela, Judy, Kat, Sally, Mike and Cat have worked to arrange their schedules so they can be at the storage lockers to assist people with the equipment they need. They have made sure that the equipment they give out is clean and sanitary and that any returned items are cleaned before being put away. The Respiratory Team has developed a system to make sure that those who need oxygen concentrators or cpap machines receive them. Merl, Luis, Mike, Barb and Kat have made sure that when equipment is needed, they are at the lockers to instruct the patient or caregiver in how to set it up at home, how to use it and keep it clean, and resolve any potential problems. They also make sure that the concentrators are clean and sanitary before giving them out. John has taken on the job of repairing any concentrators that are not working correctly. The Translation Team has stepped in when the Equipment or Respiratory Teams need assistance. Luis and Carmen have been so helpful. The Meals Team has been busy lately delivering 20 meals during the month of May. Thank you Beverly and your wonderful team members. With the end of the quarantine, it is hoped that BHH will be able to ramp up its activities in the community. Three months after the final block is opened will see the resumption of the CPR Classes under the direction of Linda, and the Healthy Living Series will start up again beginning with a Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death. This will cause our Ambassadors Team to swing into action again. The next Blood Drive is scheduled for September 12 at the Amigos des Animales building in Alto Boquete so our Blood Donor Team, under the leadership of Marjorie, Laurie and Carmen, is already planning the event. Our Thank You Team, under the leadership of Kay, has been busy with responding to all the donations we have received. Their names will be listed in the newsletter. Without our donors, Boquete Health and Hospice could not operate. BHH’s PR and Marketing Team has been wonderful during the health crisis by continuing to get the newsletters out, provide information to the community and complete the video projects that are now on our website. Chris, Laurie and Trish have worked long and hard to keep the news flowing. Our Music Team is ready, willing and able to provide music and a player to any who request it. Val and Beverly are just waiting to hear from you (via our Nurse Administrator). Boquete Health and Hospice is so much more than just a group of people. The volunteers really CARE and WANT to help. Some have been able to help during the crisis and others are just waiting for the right time to pitch in. The organization is so blessed and grateful to have such dedicated people. NEW OPTION FOR BLOOD DONORS A new blood donation center opened June 18, 2020 in David - thanks to the David Rotary Club, MINSA, CSS and other generous donors. It is operated by the Blood Bank facility of Hospital Regional Rafael Hernández, but offers the comfort of a separate clinic. There is no need to enter the hospital and risk exposure to COVID-19. Boquete Health and Hospice is proud to support this new clinic through a working relationship and a donation of funds. You may contact us to arrange a blood donation at this facility. OR …. for your convenience … DONATE AT OUR BLOOD DRIVE in BOQUETE September 12, 7:00-1:00 Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete WhatsApp 507-6590-2000 or email blood@boquetehealth.org Why You will Want to Buy the Printed Copy of Being Prepared When the new “Being Prepared in Boquete Guide” first became available, I got my pdf version. I was excited to receive this well prepared and very valuable reference material. Many excuses later I had yet to print the 36 page booklet, let alone begun compiling the necessary information. Since this was not working for me,I decided to get the nicely printed and organized booklet for $10 - one for me and one for a friend. So glad I did!! My friend is so extremely appreciative for her copy. If you have procrastinated as I did, I encourage you to get your copy. JUST DO IT! Get Your PDF Guide - Donate Our 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. 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 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.org Please Donate Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thank you This email was sent to <<Email Address>> why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Boquete Health and Hospice · Bajo Boquete · Boquete · Panama

View this email in your browser Table of Contents: • Letter from our President • Equipment Usage for April • Magic of Music • How BHH can help Now • Thank you, Diane and Tom • Being Prepared for Life and Death • Our Mission Letter from the President Boquete Health and Hospice Response to the Relaxation of the Quarantine Questions have been asked about how Boquete Health and Hospice will handle calls when the quarantine is relaxed. Until the quarantine is totally removed, there will be no change in our policies and procedures. There are no home visits by our members. Any equipment that is needed must be picked up at our storage location in Alto Boquete. For the three months immediately following the lifting of the quarantine, if home visits are requested, the following procedures are mandatory: 1) Hospice volunteers and people in the house MUST wear face masks. 2) Hand sanitizer must be used BEFORE and AFTER meeting with the patient or their family 3) All items must be disinfected prior to and after each use (by the volunteer) 4) As few people as possible should be in the house (preferably just the patient and primary caregiver. 5) Only those visits deemed necessary by our Nurse Administrator will occur. After the three months, procedures will return to pre-crisis standards. In regard to training and meetings, CPR training will resume after the three month waiting period. Meetings will resume on the normal schedule, Council on the first Wednesday of the month and General Meetings on the second Thursday with the requirement that masks be worn and social distancing be observed. In general – Boquete Health and Hospice will be handling everything with a very CAUTIOUS approach. Equipment usage for the month of April, 2020 For the month of April, there were 14 items given to 7 people. Due to the fact that people are staying home, we have seen a dramatic reduction in the requests for equipment. BHH has mobility equipment available as needed as well as respiratory equipment. While we are not doing any home visits, we are still available for equipment loan. If you or someone you know needs a wheelchair, crutches, bedside commode, cane, or other small equipment, and can come to our locker in Alto Boquete to get it, we can help. All our equipment is cleaned and sanitized when we receive it back and again before we lend it out, so you can be confident that it is safe to use. Our volunteers are masked and gloved for their and your safety. The Magic of Music The Magic of Music Team is ready, willing and able to provide music and a player to suit anyone’s musical tastes. If you or someone you know would benefit from this new program, please contact our administrator at 6781-9250. How Boquete Health and Hospice can help NOW BHH is here for you. With the virus still active and no vaccine available, we are being extra cautious with our volunteers and are asking for our patients’ help and understanding. The ONLY services we have stopped are the home visits, meetings and trainings. We are still loaning equipment and acting as intermediaries for those who need blood. As more freedom of movement is allowed, Hospice will be increasing our activities in the community. Diane Mooney, David Wulf, Laurie Collier, Tom Mooney We bid a fond farewell to Diane and Tom Mooney! Our valued members have decided to move back to Canada, and they will be sorely missed. Diane served as Secretary, Vice President and Team Leader. She was instrumental in updating our marketing materials; forming the member Mentor Program; organizing the logistics of our Health Fair; and implementing the teams concept. Tom helped with the Health Fair set up and break down; bed deliveries; and joined the respiratory team. He was always available as needed. Diane and Tom, your heartfelt contributions to BHH have enriched our organization and we are grateful to you. THANK YOU and BEST WISHES from us all! NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME…. TODAY you will get your GUIDE BOOK…… GO TO MAILBOXES, ETC. for your hard copy…. OR ORDER A PDF COPY from our website…. NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME…… ALL THE FORMS ARE IN ONE PLACE…… PUT DOWN the remote control…… And that glass of WINE…… YOU WILL THINK about your final plans…… And MAKE SOME difficult decisions…. JUST IN CASE YOU DIE TOMORROW, or soon…… BE PREPARED! And WHEN YOU FINISH……RELAX! KNOW that you have used YOUR TIME IN QUARANTINE WISELY! Your homework is complete! NOW pick up the remote and finish your glass of wine! Being Prepared – Hard Copy Many of Boquete’s citizens have purchased and received a PDF copy of the newly revised Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death. This is a good way to start the gathering, sorting and preparation of the necessary information. However, the hard copy (on sale at Mail Boxes Etc.) has one distinct advantage – it is already in a spiral binder with plastic covers to help keep the information together, organized and neat. The hard copy is available for a minimum donation of $10.00. Get Your PDF Guide - Donate Our 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. 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 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.org Please Donate Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thank you This email was sent to boquetehealthandhospice@gmail.com why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Boquete Health and Hospice · Bajo Boquete · Boquete · Panama