The Child Loss Support Group and Talbot Hospice will host a Celebration of Life commemorating Mother’s & Father’s Day Saturday, June 8, 2019, 10 a.m. at The Healing Garden at the Easton Club.

Parents and family members who have lost a child, regardless of the child’s age, are invited to attend. Parking is on Clubhouse Drive, just past the Easton Club entrance. In case of a storm, the Celebration of Life will be held at St. Mark’s Church Fellowship Hall.

“This memorial celebration offers families a time to honor and remember their special child. Children always live in our hearts, and sharing their light and love is part of this celebration,” said Vivian Dodge, Executive Director, Talbot Hospice.

For more information, contact Talbot Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Becky DeMattia at 410-822-6681 or bdemattia@talbothospice.org.

Rebecca DeMattia

Talbot Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Rebecca DeMattia, LCSW-C recently earned her certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional from the International Association of Trauma Professionals. Demattia, a licensed certified social worker and certified grief counselor, has worked in the home care & hospice field since 2002 and has been providing grief counseling and support since 2006.

According to Talbot Hospice Executive Director Vivian Dodge, DeMattia’s certification ensures that every person served through the bereavement department receives the highest level of care. “We are proud of Becky’s achievement and pleased to offer this expertise to individuals and families in our community who have experienced tragic and traumatic deaths,” said Dodge.

In her role as Bereavement Coordinator for Talbot Hospice, DeMattia is responsible for the supervision and overall management of the bereavement program including the planning and implementation of grief support for patients and their families, caregivers, hospice staff, and the community at large.

DeMattia earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Masters of Social Work Degree from Salisbury University. She earned her certification as a Certified Grief Counselor in 2012 and is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Social Work from Walden University. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Talbot Hospice offers individual and family consultation as well as a variety of support groups that meet on a regular basis.  Services are offered without charge and are made possible through charitable donations. Bereavement services are available to anyone, regardless of whether or not their loved one was served by Talbot Hospice. For a complete listing of support groups offered visit TalbotHospice.org, or for more information contact Rebecca DeMattia at 410-822-6681 or bdemattia@gmail.com.

Talbot Hospice will hold its 4^th Annual Memorial Walk on Oxford Day, Saturday, April 27^th at 8 a.m. Check-in, a light breakfast, and memorial activity begin at 7 a.m.The public is invited to walk in memory or in honor of a loved one to benefit hospice and bereavement services in Talbot County.  The event will begin with a brief ceremony followed by a 0.8-mile walk to the Strand, finishing at 8:30 a.m. with a dove release and another opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed.

Participants in the 2018 Talbot Hospice Memorial Walk.

“Our Memorial Walk is a wonderful time to remember and honor the lives of our loved ones,” said Vivian Dodge, Executive Director, Talbot Hospice. “It is a time to reflect on their gifts and uniqueness. We are grateful to the Oxford Day Committee and the Town of Oxford for recognizing the value of end-of-life care and including Talbot Hospice in this event. We look forward to spending this special time with our hospice family members.”

Registration for adults is $25, students are $10, and children 12 and under are free.  The fee includes an adult t-shirt and light breakfast.  Check-in and breakfast begin at 7 a.m. New this year is “Support a Walker” available through the website. To register visit TalbotHospice.org/events or call 410-822-6681. For more information, contact Laura Richeson at lricheson@talbothospice.org.

Talbot Palliative Care is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from the Ferree Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation to support their new community home-based palliative care program for individuals with chronic, serious illnesses, and those who care for them. Talbot Palliative Care is dedicated to improving the quality of life for both the patient and the family, whether the disease is curable, chronic, or life limiting. Talbot Palliative Care, a program of Talbot Hospice, provides consultative services and clinical oversight of an individual’s care and works with community physicians to manage symptoms.

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation awards grants through a competitive application and review process and is committed to programs that enrich the quality of life in the Mid-Shore region.The Ferree Fund is named for Margaret B. Ferree, who for 44 years until her death in 2011, was the embodiment of stewardship and generosity in the Mid-Shore region.

From L-R: Talbot Palliative Care Coordinator Shantel Matthews, RN, Talbot Hospice Executive Director Vivian Dodge, Charles Capute, Esquire, who oversees the Ferree Fund, and Mid-Shore Community Foundation President Buck Duncan.

“We are delighted to have the support of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation,” said Vivian Dodge, executive director of Talbot Hospice.  “Charitable donations make a significant impact on the quality of services and programs we can provide to patients and families.  We are excited about our new palliative care program and the partnerships we are forming with local physicians to support their patients at home.”  To schedule an appointment to learn more about Talbot Palliative Care, call 410-822-2040 or email Shantel Matthews, RN, at smatthews@talbothospice.org.

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity serving Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. The Foundation works with donors and non-profits to create access to opportunity for the region’s citizens through the power of charitable giving. For more information on the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, establishing a fund, or charitable giving in the region, please call 410-820-8175 or visit the Foundation’s website www.mscf.org.

If you have been impacted by a traumatic death, Talbot Hospice is here to help support your grief journey. Healing After a Traumatic Loss is a new grief support group for anyone in the community impacted by a traumatic death including accident, overdose, suicide, or homicide. The group meets every second Tuesday of the month from 6:30– 8:30 p.m. at 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, and is open to the public, free of charge.

According to Talbot Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Becky DeMattia, traumatic death can create a wound that other death experiences do not; often there are unanswered questions, frustrations, guilt, which lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental and physical symptoms. “Traumatic death not only impact us personally as we navigate our lives without our loved one, it effects our families, our jobs, our marriages, our social circles, etc. In addition to processing this difficult grief, it is not uncommon for society to misunderstand our pain, or to assume things about our loved one that perhaps were not true. Traumatic deaths can bring stigma and shame and therefore further complicate the grief journey.”

The goal of Healing After a Traumatic Loss is to offer peer support, grief education, resources, and a confidential, safe place for sharing and healing and to begin processing the painful grief associated with these types of losses.

As a licensed certified social worker, certified grief counselor, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, DeMattia has been providing grief counseling since 2007. DeMattia has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Social Work, both from Salisbury University. She received her Certification in Grief Counseling from the American Academy of Grief Counseling in 2012, and most recently finished training through the International Association of Trauma Professionals to receive her certification as a Trauma Counselor. She is also currently working toward a doctorate in Social Work.

Talbot Hospice is the premier resource for grief support in Talbot County offering a variety of ongoing grief and caregiver support groups, all of which meet at 586 Cynwood Drive and are open to the public, free of charge. They include Caregivers Support every Thursday at 1 p.m., Healing Through Yoga every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Pet Loss Support with Talbot Humane every 1^st Thursday at 6 p.m., Child Loss Support every 3^rd Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and a monthly Grief Support Group every 4^th Tuesday at 5 p.m. A four-week group, Shattering the Silence, specifically for anyone impacted by a death due to overdose or suicide, begins February 18 and meets every Monday at 6 p.m. through March 4. Exact dates can be found on the website’s calendar at TalbotHospice.org.

For more information about Talbot Hospice grief support services contact Becky DeMattia at 410-822-6681 or bdemattia@talbothospice.org.

Talbot Hospice will hold its bi-annual Volunteer Training March 18 and 20, 2019. If you are interested in giving back to our community in a meaningful way, consider becoming a Talbot Hospice Volunteer. Perhaps you love to cook or garden. Maybe you play a musical instrument. Companion volunteers visit patients in their homes and in facilities,make check-in phone calls, shop for groceries, and transport patients to appointments and on errands. If you love to cook, we are seeking individuals to help cook breakfast and dinner, especially weekends. Other roles include musicians, greeters, Hospice House caregivers (especially weekends), and gardeners.

Topics covered during training include hospice purpose and philosophy, volunteer roles, spirituality at end of life, death and dying, listening skills and boundaries, family dynamics, cultural diversity, and grief.

If you’ve been looking for your passion and calling and would like to learn more about volunteering at Talbot Hospice, contact Director of Volunteer Services Lori Miller at lmiller@talbothospice.org or 410-822-6681, or visit TalbotHospice.org/Volunteer.

It’s time to say so long to winter and welcome spring! Talbot Hospice’s 6^th annual “Welcome Spring Bouquet” sale is in full bloom! This colorful volunteer-run fundraiser brings good cheer while supporting the important work of Talbot Hospice.

Talbot Hospice Spring Bouquet committee members. Pictured left to right are co-chair Julie Burleson, Joan Startt, Mary Ford, co-chair Leslie Mosier, Peggy Ford, Ruth Dominick, and Carol Smith.

According to Talbot Hospice volunteer Julie Burleson, co-chair of the fundraiser, there is no better way to say “I love you,” “thank you,” or “just because,” than lovely fresh flowers. “Flowers are a timeless symbol of life, love and renewal,” said Burleson. “At Talbot Hospice we like to celebrate each day to the fullest, and fresh flowers are a reminder that spring is just around the corner.” Last year’s fundraiser yielded over $10,000 which directly benefits patients facing end of life and their families.

The beautiful bouquets are only $20 and make a perfect gift for a spouse, friend, colleague, child, or parent. Orders must be placed by March 14, and bouquets will be available for pick up on March 21, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.at Talbot Hospice, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton. Orders of five or more bouquets can be delivered to your home or office.  To order visit TalbotHospice.org/events, call 410-822-6681, or visit the Talbot Hospice office. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Talbot Hospice has recently launched a new, community home-based palliative care program for individuals with chronic, serious illnesses, and those that care for them. Operating out of Easton’s Talbot Hospice, Talbot Palliative Care is dedicated to improving the quality of life for both the patient and the family, whether the disease is curable, chronic, or life limiting. Talbot Palliative Care provides consultative services and clinical oversight of an individual’s care and works with community physicians to manage symptoms.

Palliative care’s patient-family centered care optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating symptoms. The program focuses on working with individuals who have a chronic, serious illness – and their community physicians – to manage pain, other symptoms, and the stress associated with a serious illness. Palliative care is appropriate throughout the continuum of illness and involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, while facilitating patient autonomy, access to information, and choice.

Talbot Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Michele Potter-Williams, DNP

Palliative Care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and can be provided together with curative treatment. The Talbot Palliative Care team will visit individuals in their own residence or home, wherever that may be, including long-term care and assisted living facilities.

“Talbot Hospice realizes that seriously ill patients often do better when they receive coordinated and personalized treatment,” said Talbot Hospice Executive Director Vivian Dodge. “Studies show that patients who receive palliative care have an improved quality of life. Our goal is to collaborate with our community physicians for improved symptom management, and reduce repeated visits to the hospital and emergency room. We are extremely excited to offer this service to our community.”

To schedule an appointment to learn more about Talbot Palliative Care, call 410-822-2040 or email Shantel Matthews, RN at smatthews@talbothospice.org