Horisun Hospice

07/25/2025

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07/24/2025

Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities

07/23/2025

A friend shared something so profound with me today.

They let me in on a private moment that they shared with A while we were in the hospital during one of many emergency hospitalizations that final summer.

I had never heard that story before.

And the retelling of it felt so vivid.
I could see the scene.. I could see them having a heart to heart as they let death in the room and listened to the lessons in brought with it.

My friend said that there hasn’t been a day where what A shared in that moment hasn’t been on their mind.

And that it continues to inform their life and the life of those around them ♥️

That felt like such a gift to me.

To know that A had reached many hearts and many lives in a way I wasn’t even aware of.

That even though his life is over, his wisdom and his heart continues to live on in all of us.

Being let in on a moment I never knew occurred was such a gift.

It felt like he was in the room.
With us, through us, between us ♥️

His spirit felt so alive.

For anyone who loves and supports a griever, share your stories with them.

Let them know how their person has impacted you. Let them in on your memories.

It means so much more than you know.

With love,
Marie

07/22/2025

07/17/2025

It took me 12 years to even begin to look at my grief. And each decade following, brought a revisiting of grief, in a whole new way.

You will come to know and understand your grief whenever the time is right, for you.

The right time may be because you’ve come to understand something you hadn’t before.

The right time might be because you found someone or somewhere that will listen and hold your heart.

The right time might be because you discovered a book or music or way to move your body that addresses your grief.

Hold your heart gently.

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It’s okay if you forgot to grieve.
Or didn’t know how to grieve.
Or were afraid to grieve.

It’s okay to start, right where you are.

It’s never too late to reach right in to understand the cracks that formed in your heart, the day someone you love, died.

07/16/2025

Where would we be
without the caregivers?

Their hearts so full
of warmth and care
they step in and provide
like an answered prayer.

Their eyes so full
of empathy,
they hold hands
and hold space
for the hurting to feel seen.

Their souls so full
of sincerity,
the first to give
and the first to pour out
anticipating every need.

Who step in
to comfort, to cover
to soothe and to nurture,
to bear witness
to the pain of another.

Who lose sleep
ever-serving, pouring
from an empty cup
as they hold nocturnal vigil,
when no one else is up.

Who are there
for every painful breath
and every tear cried.
their grace, a loving guide
the bedrock at the bedside.

Oh, where would we be
without the caregivers?

-Liz Newman

07/15/2025

Dear Barbara, how do you get a terminally-ill patient to accept hospice care?

Most of us know hospice takes care of people who are dying. Since we are a death-denying society, no one wants to hear that they need hospice services.

You may be wondering who counts as “people who are dying” and at what point people can be considered to be “dying.” These are people who the doctors are having a difficult time fixing; people the doctors probably can’t fix. What does hospice do? Hospice helps these patients live as comfortably as possible with the understanding that they won’t be cured. Hospice also provides reassurance and practical assistance to families of the patients.

What do you say to someone to get them to accept hospice? Well, one thing to consider asking after explaining the services hospice offers is what they think will happen if they get on hospice too soon. The answer is often a really good thing – the person gets discharged from the hospice program. They have stabilized or gotten better and no longer need the guidance that hospice offers. Great! Eligibility is addressed for two 90-day periods and then a 60-day period. But you can apply for numerous 60-day extensions after that.

Getting on the hospice program when a person’s condition is deteriorating in spite of all the treatment that has been given means accepting a different kind of medical help. It is not saying we have given up hope. It is not implying that death will be tomorrow or next week.

What is so bad or scary about that? The scary part is that everyone has to admit, on paper, that there isn’t going to be the cure everyone was praying for, that life isn’t going to end with a “happily ever after.” Hospice services can support and guide everyone during that scary time.

So how do we get someone who needs it on the hospice program? Talk with them about all of the above. The hard part then will be to stand back and let them make their own decisions. It may not be the decision we think is best for them but at least it will be based on fact not fear.

07/11/2025

Please join us in congratulating Randi, Hospice Aide, on her second anniversary with the HoriSun team! Thank you Randi for the love, dedication, and support you bring to our patients and their loved ones. We are so thankful for all that you do and wish you a most happy anniversary!

07/11/2025

Please join us in congratulating Brittany, Visiting Nurse, on her third anniversary with HoriSun Hospice! Thank you Brittany, for the on-call support you provide our team and patients. We greatly appreciate your dedication, compassion, and expertise and wish you a happy anniversary!