Tri-Cities Chaplaincy

Cork’s Place Kids Grief Center Moves into New Building

Chaplaincy Health Care — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 19:35:55 +0000

RICHLAND, WA – Cork’s Place Kids Grief Center, a program offered by Chaplaincy Health Care, is moving to a new location. Beginning in April, Cork’s Place will operate out of the business side of Chaplaincy’s Hospice House, located at 2108 W. Entiat Ave in Kennewick.

This move supports Cork’s Place goal of serving more kids and families. The new location will allow more participants to meet at the same time, increasing the number of people served. It will also provide more space for activities during sessions.

In addition to moving locations, Cork’s Place will also begin their restructured grief support programs in April. Instead of offering a year-round program, as they have in the past, they will now offer one-day workshops and four-week programs. This change will allow Cork’s Place to serve more families and make a larger impact in the community.

These shorter one-day and four-week programs are designed to better equip kids and adults with the tools and resources for coping with grief. Kids will participate in activities that are related to their personal grief, such as group discussion, physical activity, art and music. Adult caregivers will participate in separate grief groups that meet during the same time.

After attending Cork’s Place, kids and their grown-ups will be equipped with the tools and resources for coping with grief. They will be prepared to manage their grief and lead productive lives. If kids and their families feel the need for continued grief support after attending Cork’s Place, they can re-enroll into either the one-day workshop or four-week program. Cork’s Place also helps families identify additional support resources if necessary.

Registration for the new Cork’s Place programs will open to the public on Wednesday, March 29.

More About Cork’s Place

Cork’s Place is a service offered by Chaplaincy Health Care and is the only grief support facility in the Tri-Cities that is specifically designed for children and teens. Cork’s Place equips kids and adults with tools and resources for coping with grief so they can live their best lives. Learn more at www.ChaplaincyHealthCare.Org/Corks-Place.

About Chaplaincy Health Care

Chaplaincy Health Care is a non-profit agency whose mission is to serve our community with exemplary physical, emotional and spiritual care during times of serious illness, crisis, loss and grief. For over 50 years, Chaplaincy has served Benton and Franklin counties during life’s most delicate moments. Learn more at www.ChaplaincyHealthCare.Org.

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What is Hospice Care?

Chaplaincy Health Care — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:36:30 +0000

Many people have heard the term “hospice care” but are often unfamiliar with the benefits of hospice, or unsure of when to begin receiving care. Tri-Cities Chaplaincy is here to answer all your hospice questions.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is a Medicare-certified benefit that provides physical, emotional, and spiritual care to a patient in the last months of their life. Hospice works best for patients who begin receiving care as early as possible, rather than waiting for the final days or weeks. Beginning care when there are still months of life left helps patients take full advantage of all we can do to provide peace, comfort, and quality of life.

Everyone takes a last breath, but nobody fully knows what to expect. Hospice helps patients and their families navigate the uncertainty, newness, and challenges of end-of-life.

When Does a Person Qualify for Hospice Care?

Hospice is for those who have a life expectancy of six months or less. If a person isn’t sure how long they have left, they’re encouraged to speak with their physician and ask a simple question that we call The Surprise Question: “Would you be surprised if I died in the next six months?” If the answer to that question is, “No, I wouldn’t be surprised”, then that person is qualified for hospice. Learn more about The Surprise Question by watching our Surprise Question video on YouTube.

An individual might also qualify for hospice care if they decide they want to begin receiving comfort care, rather than curative treatment. If you are unsure about whether it’s time to begin hospice care, our nurses are here to discuss your exact needs, address your concerns, and answer questions.

What Does End of Life Look Like in Hospice Care?

When people are on hospice care for the final months of their life, they benefit from being comfortable in every way. They experience physical and medical comfort, as well as spiritual and emotional comfort.

Physically and medically, hospice patients experience pain and symptom management from their nurses and medical directors. Patients experience decreased crises and trips to the hospital. Their physical comfort allows them to enjoy doing activities they love with the people they cherish.

Spiritually and emotionally, patients receive care and guidance to ensure a comfortable mind and spirit. Our social workers and chaplains are available to guide conversations, offer resources, and assist with difficult feelings or conversations.

Is Hospice Care Just for the Patient?

Hospice care is not just for the patient; we also provide emotional and spiritual care to the patient’s families and loved ones. After a patient dies, we provide free bereavement care for a year. Hospice is all-inclusive care for the entire family.

How Does Somebody Begin Hospice Care?

Beginning hospice care is easy. A consult or referral for hospice does not require a physician. A patient or family member can begin a referral themselves at chaplaincyhealthcare.org/hospice or by calling (509) 783-7416.

Individuals approaching end-of-life are encouraged to try hospice, even if they aren’t certain it’s how they want to spend their remaining months. If a patient begins care and decides it isn’t the right fit for them, they can always revoke care and be discharged from our services.

If you have more questions about hospice care, call (509) 783-7416, visit our hospice webpage or email us.

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Spring eNewsletter, 2023

Chaplaincy Health Care — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:31:15 +0000

Chaplaincy’s Spring eNewsletter is here! In this edition, you can read more about what hospice care is, save the date for this year’s fundraising events, and learn about the big impact you can make at Repeat Boutique. View all this – and more – in our Spring eNewsletter!

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Cork’s Place Kids Grief Center Updates their Grief Support Program to Serve More Families

Chaplaincy Health Care — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:28:44 +0000

RICHLAND, WA – Chaplaincy Health Care is changing the structure of Cork’s Place Kids Grief Center to serve more families and make a larger impact. Currently, Cork’s Place offers a year-round program to families. Because the program is year-round, the number of families that Cork’s Place is able to serve is limited. Cork’s Place has an extensive waitlist of kids and grown-ups who are in serious need of grief support. Beginning in April, Cork’s Place will change their structure and offer one-day workshops and four-week programs to families who are experiencing grief.

These shorter, one-day and four-week programs are designed to better equip kids and adults with the tools and resources for coping with grief. Kids will participate in activities that are related to their personal grief, such as group discussion, physical activity, art and music. Adult caregivers will participate in separate grief groups that meet during the same time.

After attending Cork’s Place, kids and their grown-ups will have found hope, healing and connection with others. They will be prepared to manage their grief and lead productive lives. If kids and their families feel the need for continued grief support after attending Cork’s Place, they can re-enroll in either the one-day workshop or four-week program. Cork’s Place also helps families identify additional support resources if necessary.

Thanks to grants, fundraising events and individual contribution from the community, Cork’s Place is offered to families at no cost.

Registration to Cork’s Place will open to the public on Wednesday, March 29.

More About Cork’s Place

About Chaplaincy Health Care

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Chaplaincy’s Hospice House Reopens After Water Main Break

Chaplaincy Health Care — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:51:19 +0000

Chaplaincy Health Care Reopens Hospice House

RICHLAND, WA – On Thursday, December 29, Chaplaincy Health Care reopened their Hospice House. The Hospice House was evacuated and temporarily closed after a water main break and partial ceiling collapse that happened on Friday, December 23.

Chaplaincy reopened six of their ten beds. Damages were kept to the back half of the Hospice House during the water main break, and Chaplaincy staff and community partners responded quickly to keep damages from spreading. Four beds in the back half of the Hospice House will remain temporarily closed as they undergo more extensive cleaning and repair.

Since the time of the event, the building has been inspected and is safe for reopening.

“Because we were able to restrict the area, move quickly on the cleaning, and block off the rooms which were affected by the water main break, we are safely re-opening our Hospice House today,” said Chaplaincy CEO Laurie Jackson. “The patients we care for in our Hospice House are the most critical, highly acute patients, and we want to make sure we can serve them in the best way possible. I am so grateful that we can reopen this quickly and with such safety.“

During the incident on December 23, all patients, patient families and staff were unharmed and safely transported to Kennewick Life Care Center.

Chaplaincy’s Hospice House is the only hospice house in Benton and Franklin counties and one of only ten hospice houses in the state of Washington. The Hospice House provides a higher level of medical care to hospice patients during periods of uncontrolled pain and/or symptom management. It is a crucial service that is available to all hospice patients in Benton and Franklin counties.

Chaplaincy is accepting donations to help cover the costs of the damages incurred during the water main break and ceiling collapse. Donations can be made online at https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E349096&id=1.

About Chaplaincy Health Care

Chaplaincy Health Care is a non-profit agency whose mission is to serve others with exemplary spiritual, emotional and physical care. For over 50 years, Chaplaincy has served Benton and Franklin counties, providing comfort and care for people experiencing serious illness, end of life and loss. Learn more at www.ChaplaincyHealthCare.Org.

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Fall E-Newsletter, 2022

Chaplaincy Health Care — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 19:50:13 +0000

Chaplaincy’s Newsletter is back with a new look! To best keep you updated on all that is happening at Chaplaincy Health Care, our newsletters will now be entirely electronic and released twice a year. Sign up to receive our E-Newsletter and have Chaplaincy news delivered directly to your inbox!

In this edition, you can register for our annual Lighting the Path Fundraising Breakfast, hear an update from Cork’s Place, and learn how an early referral to hospice care can help you and your loved ones make the most of every moment. See inside for more!

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Make the Most of Every Moment with an Early Referral

Chaplaincy Health Care — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 23:05:26 +0000

Hospice care helps those living with an advanced illness make the most of every moment. Rather than lengthening life, it provides guidance, comfort, and support to help you live your best life with the time you have left.

Accepting that it’s time to begin hospice care services can be difficult, but starting care sooner rather than later is crucial to the work we do. It allows us to get to know the patient and their loved ones and to get physical symptoms under control. It provides time for our social workers to assist with emotional support and offer resources. It gives our chaplains the opportunity to address any spiritual needs or suffering. This holistic approach helps patients be as comfortable as possible and allows family members and loved ones to focus on enjoying more moments together.

Waiting until the last minute to begin hospice care makes it difficult for our team to fully address physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. When someone is in a crisis, managing symptoms and providing comfort becomes increasingly more challenging. Beginning care during a crisis also prevents our team from fully getting to know the patient, their history, their caregivers, and their loved ones.

An individual qualifies for hospice care when a physician has determined that their life expectancy is six months or less. This does not necessarily mean that death will happen within six months; we have patients who are on our services for anywhere from days to years. If you aren’t sure whether it’s time for you to start hospice care, you can always schedule a consultation with our care team. Our compassionate nurses will meet with you to discuss hospice and answer questions.

We recognize the challenges of beginning hospice care services and stepping into the final phase of life. But beginning hospice care does not mean giving up. Hospice care means redefining hope – the hope of fulfilling wishes, spending more time with people you cherish, and the chance to say “I love you”. Hospice care is a way to give yourself and your loved ones comfort and quality of life. It means living your best life for every second, even – and especially – up until the last breath.

Anyone can start a referral to hospice care, and you do not need to visit your primary care doctor to begin a referral. We are available any time, 24/7, at (509) 783-7416.

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Summer Newsletter, 2022

Chaplaincy Health Care — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 21:05:26 +0000

The Summer 2022 Newsletter is here, and we are excited to keep you updated on all that is happening at Chaplaincy Health Care. In this edition, join us in giving thanks to those who provided hope, healing and connection to local youth at the Heart of Healing Benefit for Cork’s Place, learn how you can make an impact by supporting our Hospice Care Campaign, and read about how we partner with you – our compassionate community – to provide expert care and guidance. See inside for more!

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Chaplaincy Health Care Annual Report 2021

Chaplaincy Health Care — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 20:21:17 +0000

With the generous support of our community, thousands of people and families received expert guidance and care in 2021.

As we continue through this year, our focus will remain on providing exemplary spiritual, emotional and physical care while continuing to grow and expand our programs. This is made possible by your support as partners in caring.

Thank you for your continued partnership. Your support makes a difference each and every day.

View the full annual report below.

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Spring Newsletter, 2022

Chaplaincy Health Care — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:21:24 +0000

The Spring 2022 Newsletter is here, and we are excited to keep you updated on all that is happening at Chaplaincy Health Care. In this edition, you can join us in welcoming our new CEO, read about the benefits of early patient car services, save the date for our 6th annual Heart of Healing benefit, and learn about becoming a Champion of Care. See inside for more!

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