Friday, January 18, 2013
Moving to Facebook instead of this Blog
We are moving all of our updates, photos, stories, etc to our page on Facebook: The Denver Hospice Volunteers. So "like" us on Facebook to get all updates and to stay in touch.
Also, "like" The Denver Hospice page on Facebook to get updates from the organization on event, fundraisers, family stories, etc.
We will no longer be updating this blog.
Other resources for information about volunteering include:
-calling The Denver Hospice main phone number and asking for any member of the Volunteer Engagement Team
-www.thedenverhospice.org
-newsletter that is emailed to all volunteers at least quarterly
-email updates and volunteer opportunities regularly emailed to all volunteers
See you on Facebook! Call us if you have any questions!
Thank you,
The Denver Hospice Volunteer Engagement Team
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Happy Holidays to all our Volunteers!
Monday, November 19, 2012
29 Days of Giving
29 Days of Giving:
This is the Volunteer Page where volunteer can make a donation! As a Volunteer Team, we are trying to raise $20,000 to support patients and families! Please consider a gift to help The Denver Hospice serve even more patients and families during this especially meaningful time of year.
Congratulations to John
Many of you know our Volunteer John who serves 32+ hours per month at our ICC providing reiki, 11th hour support and overall comfort to our patients and their families.John also volunteers at Project Angel Heart and he is their "volunteer of the month" for November!
They mention that he also volunteers at hospice!
Here is the link:
Congratulations to John!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Happy National Hospice & Palliative Care Month
www.denverhospice.org
www.optiohealth.org
www.nhpco.org
Or call us anytime 24/7
303.321.2828
Have a wonderful month of November and Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Volunteer Appreciation Event
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Inservice for Volunteers coming up on Aug 30th
The topic is "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm! A facilitated volunteer discussion to share rewarding and challenging experiences with your fellow volunteers". It will be a great time to learn from your fellow volunteers. Volunteer Services staff Lori and Jill will be there to guide the discussion and provide support.
For more details please contact Lori at lnelson@denverhospice.org
We'd enjoy having you join us at this inservice!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Support for Our Community
The group support sessions will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and be led by counselors from The Heartlight Center, The Denver Hospice Grief Center, Colorado Hospice/Saturday Partners, Porter Hospice and Exempla Collier Hospice.
The sessions are free and open to the public. In addition to offering grief support, the drop-in sessions will offer literature and leaders will be available to offer other resources and support groups.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Great Article by Center for Improving Value in Health Care
What's the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice Care? Part I in a Series of FAQs
Posted Jun 5, 2012 by Jenny Nate at http://civhc.org/Voices-On-Value/June-2012/What-s-the-Difference-Between-Palliative-Care-and-.aspx?utm_source=Voices+on+Value+%7C+CIVHC+News%2C+June+2012&utm_campaign=Voices+on+Value+June+2012&utm_medium=email
Despite some interesting “discussions” at the federal level on end-of-life care over the last few years, CIVHC continues our commitment as a convener and leader to improve access to high-quality palliative care across Colorado. Along the way, we’ve received many questions from stakeholders about palliative care and our decision to focus on this topic, especially in the light of highly charged political rhetoric associated with end-of-life care over the last couple years. Over the course of the next few months, I will be answering some of the questions we get most often in an effort to demystify palliative care. Today's question focuses on a common misperception that palliative care and hospice care are one and the same.
What's The Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice Care?
I often hear people use “hospice care” and “palliative care” interchangeably, but there are some important distinctions between these terms. “Hospice care” is a very specific term to describe a package of services most popularly defined by Medicare’s hospice benefit. Hospice care is a type of palliative care that is provided anywhere in the home or community where a patient resides. A hospice care team usually includes a doctor and nurses, social workers, spiritual advisors, nursing assistants, and trained volunteers. This team provides a range of services including basic medical care with a focus on pain and symptom control, medical supplies and equipment, counseling and social support to help you and your family with psychological, emotional, and spiritual issues. In order to be financially eligible for hospice care, the patient must agree to discontinue curative treatment, and a doctor signs a form to indicate that the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less. Usually this form requires signatures by the patient’s primary care provider as well as the medical director or physician member of a hospice team.
Palliative care is a broader approach to care that is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness, whether that illness is potentially curable, chronic or life-threatening. Palliative care is appropriate for a much broader group of patients than hospice and, unlike hospice, may be provided in conjunction with curative or life-prolonging treatment. The following is an example of what a palliative care scenario might look like from a Modern Healthcare article entitled "Hospitals Add Palliative Teams at Rapid Rate".
“A patient is diagnosed with lung cancer, and a palliative care team's assistance is enlisted from the start, working alongside oncologists and other specialists. The palliative team may include doctors and nurses as well as a social worker and chaplain. Together, they coordinate care among the many medical professionals, have long consults with the patients and their families to answer questions, and may preventively prescribe medications for likely side effects of treatment, from pain to constipation to nausea.
The palliative team has a clear vision of the patients' goals and personal philosophies and, depending on these factors, might help steer them away from treatments that are determined to be more painful than they're worth. Though palliative doctors share some similarities with hospice doctors in this regard, their goal is still to cure, and their patients are not considered to be at the end of their lives, they are simply facing a serious illness.”
Another important distinction between hospice care and palliative care is that although palliative care is provided in several hospitals and communities across the United States, there is no reimbursement model for palliative care outside the specific hospice benefit. This creates a major barrier for patients who would greatly benefit from palliative care from gaining access to these services. Many hospitals here in Colorado have established palliative care programs despite the lack of reimbursement because of the growing body of evidence that palliative care services have a tremendous impact on the quality of care for the patients as well as the cost savings of this type of intervention. We’ll talk more specifically about palliative care’s impact on health care quality, patient satisfaction, and cost efficiency is the coming months.
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Mask Project on FaceBook
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Denver Post writes about The Mask Project
http://blogs.denverpost.com/style/2012/04/13/mask/#more-14008
Monday, March 12, 2012
Fundraiser at Sipping N' Painting!
100% of the proceeds from ticket sales go to benefit The Denver Hospice and The Mask Project!
At Sipping N' Painting you'll find a casual, fun, creative environment where you can relax, imagine, create, laugh and go home with memorable and unique canvas art! You don't need to be an artist - everyone is welcome with no experience necessary! Learn more by visiting www.sippingnpainting.com.
WHEN:
Friday, April 13, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (MT)
WHERE:
Sipping n Painting
2563 15th Street
Denver, CO 80211
TICKETS are $40. To purchase, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2810812215?ref=ecal
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Registration Open for Mask Training Sessions
Monday, December 12, 2011
Volunteers Prep Masks
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Mask Project is Coming!

The Mask Project is a benefit for The Denver Hospice and is a one-of-a-kind event featuring a gallery of handcrafted clay masks created by renowned artists, celebrities, sports figures, heroes, and community leaders, an online auction, and a party.
This biennial event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for end-of-life care. With over 900 patients in the care of The Denver Hospice, and us never turning anyone away for lack of ability to pay, this benefit allows us to continue offering comprehensive and compassionate care to our entire community. For more information about the event, visit http://www.themaskproject.org.
Dozens of volunteers serve in a variety of roles that contribute to the success of this benefit. The Mask Project exhibit will be held at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in April and May 2012. Volunteer opportunities that make an impact are available spanning this entire time-frame!
Do you have a heart for hospice? Are you available for Mask-specific training in March and benefit activities in April/May 2012? Please join us! Contact Jill Homann for more information - jhomann@denverhospice.org or 303-780-4530.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
All Volunteers invited to our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
We have a NEW location too! To receive the location details, please contact Lori or Erin.
You are invited to
The 2011 Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
Celebrating ALL The Denver Hospice Volunteers
Thursday November 10th, 2011
Arrive between 5:00pm-6:00pm for buffet dinner with staff & volunteers (Italian buffet including dessert)· Please arrive no later than 6:00pm
· 6:15pm a very special program
· 7:15pm door prizes & dessert
There is no cost to attend, but RSVP is REQUIRED, so please RSVP to Lori at lnelson@denverhospice.org by 10/31 with your guest’s name.
Volunteers welcome to bring 1 Guest (no cost to attend).Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Volunteer Appreciation date/location changed
The Volunteer Appreciation previously scheduled at Dave & Busters for November 9th is being postponed because Dave & Busters is under construction. New venue & date will be announced soon. Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for helping our patients & families, and our staff & community, every day!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Join us on Friday October 7th!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Join us this Wednesday May 25th
www.onebikeonecause.org
Monday, April 25, 2011
Piano Concert benefitting The Denver Hospice
Benefiting The Denver Hospice - Join us for a performance with pianist, Katie Mahan.
Thanks to Katie's generous spirit we are honored to have such a rare talent support our mission with this intimate performance.
Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 pm
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
915 East 9th Avenue
Denver, CO 80218-3319
Katie’s strong commitment to community and her desire to give back have made this performance possible.
Seating is Limited - Get Your Tickets Today!
http://giving.thedenverhospice.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=100321
Read more about Katie at her website - http://www.katiemahan.com/home.htm
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Happy National Volunteer Week!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
All Volunteers invited to upcoming Volunteer Inservice
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Reiki Volunteers

Here is the group photo of our fabulous Volunteers who are completing Reiki Training in February & March and then will start delivering Reiki to our patients/families starting in April. They will visit patients/families, who would like to have Reiki, in the home setting, facility setting and in our Care Center. Reiki is energy work that helps people feel calm, relaxed and supported. This photo shows the 11 Volunteers (John, Christy, Becca, Francesca, Annette, Elle, Audrey, Jennifer, Karen, Paula, & Tim) with their 2 Reiki instructors (Dory & Maggie).
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thank You for all your support!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Community Open House at The Denver Hospice Care Center

Join us this Saturday January 8th anytime between 11:30am-1:30pm for the Community Open House at our brand new The Denver Hospice Care Center at 8299 East Lowry Blvd in Denver!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Happy Holidays
Monday, November 22, 2010
A Thanksgiving message from The Denver Hospice
Thanks... to our community who commits time and money to make our programs and operations possible.
Thanks... to our staff who devotes passion and care every day and provides our patients with first-class care in every way.
Thanks... for giving.
You can never be thanked too many times...
A special Thank You to our wonderful Volunteers this Thanksgiving.
~Erin, Lori and Lynnette

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A few spaces are left for the Volunteer Inservice! We'd love to see you there!
We have a few spaces open still!
Wednesday November 17th 5:30pm-8:30pm at our main offices.
2 Topics will be covered: Palliative Care (what is it, why is important for volunteers to understand) and Useful Communication Tools (to help volunteers feel even more comfortable communicating with their patients/families/staff)
Limited to 25 Volunteers (due to space in the conference room), so RSVP to Lori at lnelson@denverhospice.org
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Mark Your Calendar!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Memory Walk
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Volunteer Inservice coming up on Wednesday November 17th
The Denver Hospice Garage Sale raised $1000
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Garage Sale this Saturday Aug 21st to benefit The Denver Hospice
The Denver Hospice is hosting a GARAGE SALE fundraiser on Saturday, August 21st 9am-3pm. The sale will be at 5900 South Bemis Street in Littleton, CO 80120 during Western Welcome Week. Alll funds raised will go to The Denver Hospice’s programs and services! Stop by for great shopping! This event is hosted by Volunteers!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Our Patient John Jenkins flying in a hot air balloon
Thanks to the generosity of Gery deKoevend of Fantasy Balloons, John realized his dream on June 22 at Chatfield State Park and 9News covered the story. John’s family will never forget how Gery granted John’s final wish and recited The Balloonist’s Prayer on landing:
"The Winds have welcomed you with softness.The Sun has blessed you with his warm hands.You have flown so high and so wellthat God has joined you in your laughterand set you gently back againinto the loving arms of Mother Earth."
The story is scheduled for broadcast on Thursday on Channel 9 but breaking news could pre-empt it. Tune in or watch for the link to 9News web site.
Photos from 2010 Events

BrewGrass Festival & Fundraiser

The Mask Project- Gala evening

Blues & Brews Festival & Fundraiser
Washington Park Garden Tour 2010
BrewGrass Music Festival 2010
The Mask Project 2010
Toys for Joy - March 27, 2010
Groundblessing Ceremony for the Care Center at Lowry - December 1, 2009
Thursday, July 15, 2010
New Care Center
http://giving.thedenverhospice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=caringforthefuture

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Upcoming Volunteer Inservice
Volunteer Inservice being held Thursday August 19th 5:30pm-8:00pm:
the topic is "Boundaries: sticky situations & how to handle them".
This topic will help all volunteers in their volunteer role, and in their personal lives, learn more about appropriate boundaries, how to handle those sticky situations that come up, and how to help yourself by recognizing and honoring boundaries in your relationships with others.
Whether you volunteer with patients/families or volunteer in a nonclinical way (events, office, etc), you are very welcome to attend!
A light dinner will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please RSVP by August 17th to Lori at lnelson@denverhospice.org
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Hot Air Balloon Flight
9News at 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 16: Our hospice patient who lives in St. Andrew Village retirement community, created a “Bucket List” of things he wants to do -- and one of them is to fly in a hot air balloon. His dream will be fulfilled on Wednesday, June 16 at 6:15 a.m. when he lifts off in a hot air balloon at Chatfield Reservoir.
He will ride courtesy of Fantasy Balloons and its owner Gery deKoevend. Our Denver Hospice volunteer, Dick Krepel, is paying his way to accompany John. The two of them will enjoy watching the hot air balloon being filled, an hour ride and celebrate with a champagne toast. 9News (and possibly others) plans to cover the balloon launch Live – via its helicopter and/or on the ground. We think The Denver Post will be there, too.
John is 85, traveled the South Pacific as a Seaman First Class in the Navy. He worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation for 37 years, designing and maintaining bridges until his retirement in 1985. Then for 21 years he was a volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Another item on John’s “Bucket List” is to learn to crochet or knit, which he also will be fulfilling while living at St. Andrew’s Village.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Mark your calendar! Volunteer events coming up
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Welcome to our New Volunteers from May Hospice Training!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Mask Project Gala : good press!
Here's link to Joanne Davidson's column:
http://www.denverpost.com/society/ci_15009383
Here's link to Bill Husted's column:
http://www.denverpost.com/husted/ci_15011124
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Denver Hospice New Care Center
Monday, April 19, 2010
Greg Moody's coverage of The Mask Project on CBS4 News
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Mask Gala Tickets discounted for all TDH Volunteers

All Volunteers with The Denver Hospice can purchase a ticket to The Mask Gala at the discount price of $125! Just click on the link below:
Monday, March 15, 2010
Our new HABIC dog, Sophie
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Mask Project will open April 1st at Cherry Creek Shopping Center
The Mask Project 2010 will open on April 1st at Cherry Creek Shopping Center! We have 500 gorgeous masks ready to display and will be there through out the month of April during store hours (Mon-Sat 10am-9pm & Sun 11am-6pm). So bring your family and friends down to see the display!
If you'd like to buy tickets to attend The Mask Gala-the hottest ticket in town!- being held May 1st at 7:30pm, please see http://www.maskproject.org/
If you'd like to volunteer for The Mask Project, please contact Erin by March 12th.
The Mask Project is our largest community event and volunteers make is all possible! Thank you to our 100 Mask Volunteers this year!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Would you like to volunteer for The Mask Project 2010?
The Mask Project is coming up soon! If you haven't already, please email or call Erin if you would like to volunteer for The Mask Project this year. Whether you'd like to volunteer behind the scenes with projects (March-May) or at Cherry Creek Shopping Center in the Mask Gallery (April 1st-30th), or for the Mask Gala (May 1st), please let Erin know so that she can send you all the info about how to sign up for a training and to sign up for volunteer shifts. This year, all volunteers who would like to volunteer for The Mask Project in any capacity must attend one training session to get all the latest Mask scoop, important information about this year's schedule, etc. Volunteers give The Mask Project its "people-power"! Thank you for volunteering!
The Mask above is from Michelle Obama. To see other info on The Mask Project 2010, please visit: www.themaskproject.org
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Free Yoga Classes for Volunteers & Staff
