For twelve years, Lopez Island Hospice and Home Support has been responsive to the needs of clients and their families on Lopez Island. From their first training session in 1997, LIHHS volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours of service to their fellow Lopezians. Whether it’s elder care in the home, a chronic illness, a progressive condition, or loss and grief, LIHHS volunteers are trained to give assistance where it’s needed the most.

Currently more than sixty Lopez Island Hospice & Home Support volunteers provide transportation, assistance with correspondence, light housekeeping, meal preparation, or sometimes just a friendly visit to their neighbors on the island. “Volunteers provide more than end-of-life care, although that’s an important part of what we do. The elderly person who needs a hand, or someone who’s just had surgery and could use a little help, are eligible for our services,” said Connie Baesman, LIHHS board president. Another important element of LIHHS’s services is in-home respite care. “Caring for an ailing relative can take a toll on caregivers. Respite care is an opportunity for caregivers to have some time for themselves. Even if it’s just for an hour or two, it can really make a difference,” said Case Manager and Volunteer Coordinator Mary O’Bryant.

A frequently used service of the hospice and home support program is the availability of durable medical equipment for short or long term loan. The “DME Shed” is chock full of walkers, wheelchairs, bath assistance devices, crutches, and other medical equipment. “We even have a motorized wheelchair available for use,” said Dick Karpen, long-time volunteer. “Sometimes a cane or a walker can make the difference in how quickly someone recovers from an injury,” Baesman added.

Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also be a challenge. To support caregivers in all they do, LIHHS holds a regular caregivers’ meeting, every other Thursday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Hospice office, facilitated by Mary O’Bryant. There is also a collection of books and DVDs that deal with caregiving and other issues available for checkout at the Hospice Office.

To assist people in coming to terms with loss in their lives, LIHHS also provides a monthly Loss Support meeting. Facilitated by volunteers Sr. Judy Tralnes and Jan Sundquist, the Loss Support Group is held in the Hospice office at 1 p.m. the last Friday of each month, and can help people in their efforts to get through their own individual grief process in the good company of friends and neighbors on the island.

Lopez residents with any level of medically-based need are eligible for hospice and home support services free of charge regardless of age, gender, race, or religion. Those with short-term, long-term, or life-limiting illnesses or disabilities qualify for LIHHS care; being home-bound is not a requirement. Frail or elderly people who need support to continue living at home are also eligible. Referrals can be by the person in need, the family, friends, or a medical care giver.

Lopez Island Hospice and Home Support is always looking for people to provide this rewarding and valuable service to the Lopez community. If you’re interested in a way to serve your fellow islanders, or if you or a loved one need the services LIHHS provides, please contact the office in their new location at 178 Weeks Road, on the north side of the Gathering Place in the LOHO Hamlet, or call 468-4446.

For more information, contact Lynne Keeley at Lopez Island Hospice and Home Support, 468-4446.