The Siuslaw news., November 14, 2015, SATURDAY EDITION, Page 9A, Image 9

SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2015
9 A
Hospice provider regularly ‘Lights Up a Life’
Hospice Profile: Nancy Allen
B Y B ECKY G OEHRING
P EACE H ARBOR H OSPICE
patients. She often goes the
extra mile, bringing in gro-
ceries, delivering medications
and flowers and will even do
after hour work if needed.”
For Allen, the reward is in
the relationship she establishes
with her clients.
“I learn a lot from them,” she
said. “I’ve learned about other
religions and beliefs about
death and dying, listened to the
history of this area from long-
time residents and heard stories
from the wars and work experi-
ences.
“My patients have stories to
tell and experiences to share. It
broadens my perspective.”
Recently, a family member
shared with her a small, cro-
cheted angel that a friend had
sent. Nancy admired it. A few
weeks later, a package arrived
for her. Inside was a bag of cro-
cheted angels.
“The woman who makes
them lives out of state,” Nancy
said. “She sent a note and said
anytime, she’d make more. I’m
giving them to my patients
now.”
Allen also loves the opportu-
nities that Hospice offers to
patients and their families to
celebrate and honor the life.
The scrapbooks made by a vol-
unteer group that tell the
patient’s story, the musicians
who donate time to bring
peaceful melodies into the
home, or the handprint project,
that creates a lasting memory
are all ways that the program
honors the patient’s life.
“The handprint project is so
great,” she said. “We had one
guy, I helped him make several
prints. He wrote a message on
each handprint to his kids. He
died and that Christmas, they
all received a casted handprint
with his personal message to
each one.
“His wife said there were a
lot of tears that morning, but
gee, what a lasting gift.”
The work is not always easy
and Allen’s even temperament
and caring spirit helps families
as they move through each day,
coming to terms. She recog-
nizes, as do all members of the
Hospice team, that each patient
and each family member deals
with a terminal diagnosis in his
or her own way.
For some, there is an accept-
ance and understanding; others
are angry. Allen respects where
each one is in that process.
“I had one patient who was
near death but couldn’t let go,”
Allen remembered. “There was
one family member who could-
n’t get here so they finally
called. I was there while they
held the phone to the patient’s
ear. The patient was, at that
point, near death. But I watched
a tear trickled out of his eye
while he was listening. He died
the next day. That was his clo-
sure.”
Closure can be difficult for
caregivers. Allen will some-
times stop by the ocean, after
she learns that a patient has
died, just to take it in and
breathe.
“They become like family to
me,” she said. “I’m with some
of them for a long time and
there is a bond. I rely on my
team members to talk it
through.
“It’s never easy.”
Camping trips, time spent in
the garden and family gather-
ings create balance for her. Her
husband, Steve, works at Peace
Harbor in the rehab department.
The couple have been married
31 years and have three chil-
dren and three grandchildren,
all living in the area.
Her face lights up when she
talks about her family but it is
the same smile that appears as
she talks about her Hospice
patients, families and team.
That dedication, compassion
and care is the gift she brings to
the patient and family mem-
bers. It is her primary goal as
she meets them where they are
on the journey and walks with
them along the way.
Peace Harbor Hospice is
sponsoring its 20th annual
Light Up a Life fundraiser cer-
emony Dec. 12, from 2 to 3:30
p.m., at the Florence Events
Center.
The Light Up a Life ceremo-
ny presents a wonderful oppor-
tunity to remember a loved one
in your life. Stars can be pur-
chased to recognize a loved one
who has died or to recognize
someone special in your life.
All stars will have your loved
one’s name attached to it. Stars
are hung on a holiday tree;
Stars of David are placed on a
Menorah table.
Recognition will also be
given during the “reading of the
names” segment of the ceremo-
ny.
All contributions are tax
deductible. 100 percent of the
contributions to Light Up
AaLife remain in Florence to
benefit Peace Harbor Hospice.
Donations can be mailed to
Peace Harbor Hospice, 400
Ninth St., in Florence, or you
can drop if off at its new loca-
tion at 2230 Kingwood Street.
For more information or to
make a donation, contact the
Hospice office at 541-997-
3418.
Office hours are Monday-
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed
from noon to 1 p.m. during
lunch.
Admission to the ceremony
is free. All are welcome.
Refreshments and music will
be provided.
Anyone living inside the city
limits in need of transportation
can contact River Cities Taxi at
541-997-8520 for free trans-
portation.
www.shoppelocal.biz
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Entering her 21st year as a
Peace Harbor Hospice health
aide, Nancy Allen brings a
wealth of experience and com-
passion as part of the team
helping the Hospice patient and
family members.
Allen was working with
Home Health in 1994 when
then director Kyle Geers asked
if she would like to be a part of
the newly forming Hospice
program.
“I said yes and it was the best
decision I've ever made,” Allen
said. “It is an honor to help
patients, and their family mem-
bers, through the transition of
dying. It’s a part of life and I
can help by answering ques-
tions, listening and just being
with them.”
As part of the Hospice team,
Allen works with patients as the
bath aide, helps with some sim-
ple wound care and healing
touch massage. And though her
primary assignment is to the
patient, she takes a holistic
approach to care. When she is
at the home, she often tells the
spouse or caregiver to take a
break.
“I encourage that,” she said.
“I tell them to take a walk, or lie
down for a nap or go out. It
really is about taking care of the
whole family.”
Allen’s caring attitude is not
lost on other Hospice team
members.
“I’ve known Nancy for over
14 years,” one team member
said. “During that time I have
seen her dedication to our