Boquete Health and Hospice

On October 22nd, 2017, from 11-3, Boquete Health and Hospice will present its first Health Fair at the Salon Arco Iris, Féria de las Flores y Café, promoting personal health and medical services to area residents--Expats, Panamanians and the Indigenous populations. We have invited local doctors, pharmacies, labs, David hospital representatives and the Boquete Social Security Clinic to present information about their various services.This is a free event. Medical testing for blood pressure and glucose among others, will also be offered at no cost.A complete hot meal, including a beverage and dessert, will be available at $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children.Please come and learn about what medical services are available in our town, who the doctors are, and where their offices are located. It could save your life!We would love to meet you all as well. See you there.

Welcome to the newsletter of Boquete Health and Hospice Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Thank You to our Generous Community from Boquete Health and Hospice’s Treasurer, Laurie Collier WHO donates? We are blessed in receiving charitable donations from grateful people: Who have benefited from our services; Who have borrowed equipment in their time of need; Who have attended our informative “Being Prepared” Presentations; Philanthropists who want to support our MISSION to provide free, caring, essential assistance to people with temporary illness or at the end of life; And YOU! WHY we need funds? Our volunteer organization needs help for: Operating Expenses, including our hotline number to our Administrator (507) 6781-9250; Storage, maintenance and purchasing of medical equipment for our short term loan program; Training and seminars; Community events, like the upcoming Boquete Health Fair on Oct. 22 at the Fairgrounds. HOW to participate? Become a valued volunteer; Donate no longer needed medical equipment; Make a financial contribution by check or cash. Contact Laurie Collier at lojocollier@yahoo.com WHAT we do? Please take 1 minute to view our descriptive video. Click on the link: https://youtu.be/EbYmYqBRs3Y In Gratitude for all assistance received, Laurie Collier Treasurer How We Help I am deeply impressed with the Boquete Health and Hospice organization, and its volunteers! I may not be a volunteer, but I sure tell everyone who will listen what wonderful work you do--you do it with purpose and love! I had an occasion about a year ago to contact Betty about a person in our church who was going to have a knee operation--in 4 or 5 days. She was renting a small bedroom in a home nearby; there was not enough room for a wheelchair after the operation. Our church Care Team lined up people to make sure she had meals, visitations, and transportation to her doctor, and offered to pick up any medications she would need. I called the Hospice, not knowing whether or not they would help our church since we had volunteers to help our member. I was so impressed by the interest in our case and the immediate offer of assistance with a walker for the patient, and a (former) nurse to visit the patient once she returned to home. Everything was set up in just 2-3 days. The day of the operation we had our pray warriors at the church praying, and we felt good that we had everything ready for when the patient returned home. The patient called me and said she was not having the operation and wanted to have a second opinion. It was a good trial run for our church's Care Team, and the absolutely incredible response from the Hospice team. I had occasion to use their crutches for the inevitable sprained ankle. I encourage all readers of this Health and Hospice article to keep it handy--you never know when you or a friend may need their services! Sharon Spalding Ladies, take your best friend to lunch and a mammogram! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Anytime in October, you can take your best friend to lunch and a mammogram in David. Hospital Chiriqui is offering mammograms for $30. Call 774-0128, ext. 1100 to schedule. Hospital Mae Lewis is offering mammograms for $35. Call 775-4616, ask for radiografía. Both facilities provide mammograms if you have breast implants for a slightly higher fee. SAVE THE DATE! October 22nd On October 22nd, 2017, from 11-3, Boquete Health and Hospice will present its first Health Fair at the Salon Arco Iris, Féria de las Flores y Café, promoting personal health and medical services to area residents--Expats, Panamanians and the Indigenous populations. We have invited local doctors, pharmacies, labs, David hospital representatives and the Boquete Social Security Clinic to present information about their various services. This is a free event. Medical testing for blood pressure and glucose among others, will also be offered at no cost. A complete hot meal, including a beverage and dessert, will be available at $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. Please come and learn about what medical services are available in our town, who the doctors are, and where their offices are located. It could save your life! We would love to meet you all as well. See you there. To Make a Donation: BHHF functions with the 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 place and time to pick up your donation. For more information, visit our website: 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 friends and families. To Contact Us Hospice/Health: 507.6781.9250 Blood Donor Program: 507.6590.2000 E-mail: boquetehospice@gmail.com E-mail: boquetehealth@gmail.com Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Copyright © 2017 , All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: boquetehealth@gmail.com Unsubscribe | View in browser

Don't miss the interview with Betty Landis from BHHF. It will air on Radio Chiriqui, 106.6 or 103.3, on Friday 8/11/17 at 10:00. She will be providing information about Boquete Health and Hospice, the Being Prepared presentation on 8/29 at the Tuesday Market Talks and the BHHF Health Fair coming up in October.

Welcome to the newsletter of Boquete Health and Hospice Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. A Message from Boquete Health and Hospice Administrator Bev Tyler As Administrator I am the contact person with the community for your immediate health needs. I carry the Boquete Health and Hospice phone and deal with any issues that come up. They include needs for equipment or help organizing care for people who are sick or dying. Often this involves a home visit to determine exactly what type of help is most needed. As a registered nurse (foreign) I oversee the care that our teams of volunteers give to make sure that the clients’ needs are being met. That includes both the person who is sick or dying and also their family and the people close to them. We have learned over the years what resources are available in the community and help link people with those resources. It is a big job but I love it. I meet interesting people who are so very grateful for what we do. I get to receive their gratitude when the reality is that we are a group of many volunteers all working hard to make sure that you and your loved ones have as good a quality of life as possible. How We Help IN A SPLIT SECOND, MY LIFE CHANGED Beginning a new life in Panama was filled with thoughts of tropical gardens to plant, glorious hikes and many new and exciting places to explore. In a split second, my fun-filled life changed last June when a ladder fell out from under me as I painted my kitchen. The doctors would diagnose me with a broken pelvis in both the front and back. To avoid surgery, I was required to lie on my back for 10 weeks, without putting any weight on my legs, and sitting for no more than 20 minutes at a time, only to eat. I have always been a very independent person, and felt so hopeless, having to suddenly depend on the help of others. Family in the States wanted to help, but could not leave their homes and jobs to take care of me, and I could not travel on an airplane to be near them. That is when a friend told me about Boquete Health and Hospice. I had not even thought of Hospice, because I was of the assumption it was for patients who were terminally ill. Boquete Health and Hospice is for many different levels of care. We came up with a plan based on my needs. The volunteers helped with housecleaning, laundry, animal care, meals, etc. They were like angels that came to my house and helped me through those miserable 10 weeks. Without their help, and the help of a couple dear friends, I don´t know how I would have endured that long period of time. I am currently in the states with damage to my spine from the same fall, and having spinal fusion surgery in two days. I will have a 12 week recuperation period much the same as before. I have often wished there was a group of volunteers I could contact as I did in Boquete. Had I been able to remain in Panama, I would have also become a Hospice Volunteer. I can think of no better way to make a difference in the Boquete community, and of helping people in need. By all means, if you are in need, please do not hesitate to call them for assistance. You will be relieved you did so. Holley Hayes The Vision and Mission Statements for Boquete Health and Hospice The vision statement for BHHF is: Supporting a Healthy Community Our mission is to inform and promote community health and to support people with needs by providing information, equipment, and services. As part of the mission to support a healthy community BHHF provides community information programs. On June 13, members of BHHF presented a program on falls prevention at the Tuesday Market. Merl Will-Wallace, Betty Landis and Laurie Collier were the speakers for the presentation. The following is a summary of the presentation: To reduce the risk of falling at home: Remove clutter and walk carefully when there are potential hazards like throw rugs and pets. Use a sturdy stool with hand rails to get something you cannot reach. Do not use towel bars, sink edge, etc. for support because they could come away from the wall. Use a night light in the bedroom and bathroom. Immediately wipe up spills on the floor and use rubber backed bathmats to prevent slipping. Wear sensible shoes (no flip flops, heels, etc.) Stay active to maintain overall strength, endurance, and balance. Know your limitations. If there is a task you cannot easily complete, do not risk a fall by trying it. Information provided by AOTA. Blood Pressure Monitoring Boquete Health and Hospice offers free Blood Pressure monitoring every Tuesday at the BCP Tuesday Market from 8:30 to 11:30 am. Stop by and let our retired professional nurses monitor your BP on a regular basis and try to answer your health questions. Save the Date! BHHF will be sponsoring a Health Fair at the Boquete Feria grounds on October 22. The focus will be on traditional medical services needed by expats in the Boquete area. Be watching for more detailed announcements as the date approaches. We are excited to present our new informational 1 minute video: https://youtu.be/EbYmYqBRs3Y To Make a Donation: BHHF functions with the 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 place and time to pick up your donation. For more information, visit our website: 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 friends and families. To Contact Us Hospice/Health: 507.6781.9250 Blood Donor Program: 507.6590.2000 E-mail: boquetehospice@gmail.com E-mail: boquetehealth@gmail.com Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Copyright © 2017 , All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: boquetehealth@gmail.com Unsubscribe | View in browser

Boquete Health and Hospice provides multiple services to people in our community with medical needs. Take 1 minute to watch this video. Boquete Health and Hospice.mp4

Welcome to the newsletter of Boquete Health and Hospice Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. A Word from the President of Boquete Health and Hospice Foundation With the successful fundraiser last November, the goals set for 2017, we knew that this year was going to be exciting and full of promise. Since February, we have given our website a fresh look, created a Facebook page, expanded our medical equipment for our loan bank and started a monthly newsletter to keep Boquete informed of who we are and what we do. At our May 13th monthly meeting we showcased our new video about Boquete Health and Hospice. All of the above has been initiated by our enthusiastic corps of volunteers and would not have happened without their selfless dedication to BHHF. David Wulf Are You Hurt? Sick? Need Medical Equipment? Equipment May Be Hard to Find -- or Too Expensive!! BHHF HAS A FREE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM. In 2016, we loaned equipment -- wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, crutches, walkers, bedside commodes, shower chairs, and other items -- to 135 people in the Boquete community. These clients used our equipment for a total of 408 months before returning the items to our storage locker. 26 % of the people who benefited from using these free loans were Panamanians -- we hope to increase their number through the community's awareness of our program. Our records for April 2017 show good progress in awareness about our free resources: Currently we have 24 items on loan to 14 Panamanian clients; 17 items are on loan to 14 English-speaking clients. To request equipment, just call our Administrator's phone number -- 6781-9250 or send an e-mail to boquetehospice@gmail.com. There will be a conversation about your medical need, which can be done in either English or Spanish. In some cases, a visit to the home may be required to fully understand the medical situation. BHHF member volunteers will meet you at our storage unit in Alto Dorado to loan out the equipment; in some cases, like hospital beds, we will arrange delivery to the home. If you, your family or friends are in need of this service at any time, we hope you will call on us. Using the right equipment can bring relief, comfort and shorten the healing time. How We Help A Current and True Personal Story … What Boquete Health and Hospice Is There to do for YOU…. Life …. When you Are making Plans…. A story I wrote for my Husband By Erin Ross for her husband, Dave Ross. To My Dave: The Story of Your Stroke (because you say you have no memory of this). Sunday, January, 22, 2017 in our shower, you have a bleed in your brain. You said you felt dizzy and you lowered yourself to the floor of the shower. (You told me this later... the only thing you remember for about 2 months). 30 minutes later, struggling in 2 feet of water as your towel and body block the shower drain, ice cold water pours down on you. You are not one to yell for help, so instead you struggle alone to get up and drag your head up from sinking. You could have drowned. The doors to the bathroom and closet area are shut. Your wife hears your rescued pup, Ridley, barking ferociously, ferociously, in your bedroom. She goes to see why, annoyed at the barking… and realizes how much time has passed since you said “I’m going to take a shower”. She calls you… no answer. She bangs through the door. She wades into the shower pan, and holds a towel under your mouth because you are retching. She tries to lift you up. She thinks you have fallen. She wants to get a neighbor, but you say “No, I just need to get up”. So you are talking. The two of you struggle for too long because your wife thinks you had just fallen, and you were moving your legs and talking. When your wife finally gets you out of the shower and onto the bathroom floor, she asks “what happened”? You said “I am sitting on the bathroom floor and my right side is very weak”. The emergency bells ring in her head. She realizes you did not simply feel “dizzy”. Every Hemorrhagic Stroke is different. We did not have any idea what was happening at first. Our neighbors were caring, brilliant and steadfast. Our Community swept waves of support, food, visits, technical care, therapy care our way. Medical care was there at Mae Lewis. You spent 8 days in ICU and almost 2 months off and on in their Hospital rooms. You are home now. In May 2017, you are regaining your strength, and mobility, although your great inquisitive brain and all its talents, are straining towards, and have difficulty regaining, clarity. You also have difficulty visually. Today May 8th you were able to read a passage from a book aloud with our spiritual group. Everyone applauded and hugged you. Your humor, Spanish language and interpersonal skills never disappeared, amazingly. Boquete… We are sharing our story for several reasons. ONE ... “life is what happens when you are making plans”, and your life can be very different before you know it. At some point you grasp that and take care of what you need to do next. TWO … Make SURE that Anyone who needs to know … Spouse, Partner, Child, etc. … has the important information re: Banks, Passwords, All things required in Panama, also Instant money/credit cards/insurance to take care of Medical and other Bills. It will save many sleepless nights. THREE … We cannot ever thank the Boquete Health and Hospice organization enough!! All Free of Charge … *** Delivered to our home … a wonderful comfortable hospital bed, a walker, a commode extender, a commode, many paper and pamper supplies. *** Visits day and night from caring supportive Volunteers, both in the Hospital and then at home *** Delicious food deliveries every other day from caring Volunteers *** Calls from the Nurse Administrator *** Assist with some Dr. /Hospital issues Thank You Boquete Neighbors, Friends, and especially Boquete Health and Hospice!! Dave and Erin Ross Residents of Boquete for 12 wonderful years , with many more to come. Save the Date! Did you know 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 fall each year? Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for people 65 and over. BHHF will do a presentation on Falls Prevention at the BCP Tuesday Market meeting on June 13th. Come learn the simple things you can do to prevent falling. Boquete Health and Hospice has a new website. Be sure to check it out. 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 friends and families. To Contact Us Hospice/Health: 507.6781.9250 Blood Donor Program: 507.6590.2000 E-mail: boquetehospice@gmail.com E-mail: boquetehealth@gmail.com Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Copyright © 2017 , All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: boquetehealth@gmail.com Unsubscribe | View in browser

Welcome to the newsletter of Boquete Health and Hospice Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Meet the Board In February Boquete Health and Hospice Foundation elected a new board. David Wulf- President, Merl Will-Wallace-Vice-President, Linda Sanchez-Secretary and Laurie Collier-Treasurer. Bev Tyler is the administrator of BHHF. The board held a retreat in March to formulate the goals of the organization for 2017. The goals include plans to create more community awareness of the services provided by BHHF, expand the volunteer base, reach out with services to more people in the Panamanian and expat community and to have a health fair later in the year. 2017 Volunteer Training On February 17, 20 and 22, thirteen members of the community made the choice of taking the Boquete Health and Hospice Foundation training. The training consists of an overview of all the requirements, information and skills needed to help our community with health issues. Some of the topics include: Explanation of services, discussion of grief and death and dying Presentations about comfort care, medications used in Panama Communication skills that include how a team is put together for a case, caring for the caregiver and final directives. For almost a decade BHHF has been helping the community by providing support for patients and caregivers when there is a serious illness, an injury, after surgery, or if the patient is dying. We also provide a blood donor list and loan durable goods such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, walkers and other medical equipment. It takes a caring heart and dedication to become a volunteer of BHHF. Be watching for the announcements for future volunteer training sessions. New Website Boquete Health and Hospice has a new website. Be sure to check it out. http://www.boquetehealth.org/ We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/ Blood Pressure Monitoring Boquete Health and Hospice offers free Blood Pressure monitoring every Tuesday at the BCP Market between 9 and noon. Stop by and let our retired professional nurses monitor your BP on a regular basis and try to answer your health questions. To Contact Us Hospice/Health: 507.6781.9250 Blood Donor Program: 507.6590.2000 E-mail: boquetehospice@gmail.com E-mail: boquetehealth@gmail.com Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. Copyright © 2017 , All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: boquetehealth@gmail.com Unsubscribe | View in browser

Boquete Health and Hospice has a new website. Take a look to find out about all of the services we offer to our community: http://www.boquetehealth.org/home.html We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks To contact us: Hospice/Health: 507.6781.9250 Blood Donor Program: 507.6590.2000 E-mail: boquetehospice@gmail.com E-mail: boquetehealth@gmail.com