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Newsletter Summer / Fall 2001 (cont Page 2) PAGE TABLE of CONTENTS Complimentary Care | Music Practioners | Staff Highlights Dow Chemical Foundation Grant | HOW Annual Meeting Volunteers Highlighting Complementary Care at Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester The Complementary Care Program at Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester, is committed to offering patients the best in supportive treatments. We believe there is a natural fit between the Hospice focus of comfort-oriented medical care and alternative therapies. We seek to offer Hospice patients a greater choice of options that join these approaches to provide the best quality of life possible. There are a number of Complementary Care therapies which are available to our patients. They include: Therapeutic Massage; Therapeutic Touch; Reflexology; Aromatherapy; Hypnotherapy; Guided Imagery; Yoga Therapy; The Feldenkrais Method; Reiki; Art Therapy; Music Therapy and Biofeedback. For further information contact Janice Sauer, CSW-R at Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester, (914) 682 - 1484, ext. #30. Music Practitioners in Complementary Care Did you know that live music has beneficial effects that contribute to the overall well-being of patients? Live music has been shown to relax the body and mind and enhance the work of the immune system. Music has been shown to lower blood pressure; reduce basal metabolism and respiration rates; it increases production of endorphins which reduce pain; it reduces infection and controls heart rate. You can experience the benefits of live music played at the bedside by one of our certified music practitioners — such as Mona Peck — who are graduates of a course of study which includes both medical and musical classes. It is not necessary for the patient to interact with the practitioner. Such music is neither a performance nor a concert, but simply a bedside service which is meant to be unobtrusive. Research has shown that even comatose patients benefit from live music.   Music therapy is a vital therapy. If music has brought pleasure to you in the past, it can continue to do so now. Music has the power to distract and may reduce pain and discomfort. It can also be a way to review one’s life in a meaningful way.

Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester Staff Highlights Holly K. Benedict, of Ossining, is the Director of Public Affairs and Development for Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester. Holly has more than twenty-five years of marketing and development experience, most recently as President of her own consulting firm, and also as Regional Director of Communications and Development for Lighthouse International. She also teaches Event Planning at Marymount College. Holly graduated from West Chester University in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and English.

Phyllis D’Angelo, RN, of Mahopac, is Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester’s Patient Care Coordinator. Prior to working for Hospice, she was the Director of Operations for Comprehensive Home Care. Phyllis has 30 years of clinical experience in both the hospital and home care settings. She was on the Board of the local American Cancer Society for five years and was honored through that organization for her outstanding contribution to the field of nursing. Phyllis is a graduate of Mount Vernon School of Nursing.

Jean Kulesa of Mohegan Lake, is the Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator for Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester. She was the Community Cancer Control Manager for the American Cancer Society in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has worked as the Support Services Coordinator for a hospice program in Connecticut. Jean holds a BS in education from Framingham State College.

Lisa Reed, RN, of Yonkers, is a Hospice nurse, has worked for Yonkers General Hospital in Medical/Surgical Nursing and at St. John’s Riverside Hospital (also in Yonkers) for ten years. She has had three additional years of private practice nursing experience in Oncology. In 1987 Lisa graduated from Westchester Community College.

Rachel Tanowitz, RD, MS, CDN, of Greenwich, is the registered dietician and nutritionist. Rachel contacts each new patient and caregiver to offer nutritional guidance. She is a graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia and completed a dietetic internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. Rachel brings to us over thirty years of experience. She received her Master’s degree from Long Island University.

	Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester Receives Grant from the Dow Chemical Foundation Jaquelyn Pirri, Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester Board member presented a one thousand dollar grant to George Batten, Executive Director, and Barbara Costello, Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester Board Chairman. The grant was awarded to Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester by The Dow Chemical Company Foundation in recognition of the value of hospice in a community’s health care system and to honor the hospice volunteers for their special contribution. A special thank you to Jacki Pirri for her participation in obtaining the grant.

	Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester Annual Meeting — June 13, 2001 Elected to a one year term as officers of the Board of Directors: Barbara Costello of New Rochelle, Chairman John Sciurba of Shrub Oak, Treasurer Gaierose Haskel of White Plains, Secretary. Barbara Costello, Joan DiPalma of Rye and John Sciurba were reappointed to a second three year term. Robin Markell of Rye Brook and Jaquelyn Pirri of White Plains were appointed to a first, three year term. Our thanks and appreciation to the retiring members of the Board for their countless hours of service and their expertise, Constance Corroon of Rye, and Donna Greene of White Plains.

	Volunteer Graduates — Spring 2001 Congratulations to our new volunteer graduates who completed 20 hours of training. They will visit Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester patients to offer support, shop, run errands and be friendly company for both the patient and their families.	From Left to Right: Jim O’Brien, Pat Sheridan, Fran O’Brien, Martha Young, Anne Marx, Barbara Alfarone, Kevin Donoghue, Betty Olivieri, and Lori Ennis. (Jerry Muhlenberg was not present for photograph.)

Volunteers Needed! Several projects are well underway at Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester. We would like volunteers to help with several office assignments as well as in the Public Affairs and Development Department. Volunteer opportunities will be offered to accommodate your schedule and training will be provided. Bring a friend!

Call Jean Kulesa Volunteer Coordinator (914) 682-1484, ext.16 to offer your time.

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