Central Okanagan Hospice Association
200-1890 Cooper Road V1Y 8B7 Kelowna, BC, Canada

Nurseswe see you, and we appreciate you. Your hard work has shown throughout during the pandemic, as you've had to wear many hats on the frontlinenot only as a nurse, but as a family member, a friend and a communicator. Thank you for all that you do, and for all you've done during these difficult times.

"Grief is love with no place to go." As Parkland parent, Fred Guttenberg articulates, losing someone means you have all these feelings that no longer have a destination. There are good days and, then there are bad days where you do whatever you have to in order to get through them.... Fred Guttenberg shares the story of the journey he's been on since his daughter's death, as well as the importance of finding ways to move forward from tragic moments: https://bit.ly/3cEU9wy

As part of #NationalNursesWeek, we wanted to give a warm thank you to all nurses who work hard, long hours doing what they lovehelping others. For everything you've done, including the dedication and selflessness you've all shown during the pandemic, thank you. You don't only have an effect on your patients, but their families too. Family members and caregivers can rest easier knowing that their loved one is in good hands in a time when they might not be able to be presen...t. Thank you for all that you do.

Losing loved ones can change the way you experience life too. You might feel guilt for enjoying precious moments, while someone else is unable to. Working through these feelings is a crucial part of the healing process not just for you, but for your family.... Our programs can help support your grief journey, no matter where you are in the process: https://bit.ly/3dD28d5

We're honoured to be nominated Best Local Charity category for the Best of Kelowna awards! Help us win the award this year by casting your vote before Monday, May 17th at 3:00 pm. Thank you in advance for your support! Visit the KelownaNow website to vote: https://bit.ly/3f2Tp4e

Happy Mother's Day! The love of a mother never leaves us, no matter where they are in this world or the next. We hope that you're able to spend some time with your mother today, whether that's in-person, virtually or in photographs and memories.

We want to give a huge thank you to our incredible community! We've all faced many changes and challenges during the pandemic, but we're so grateful for the continued support of our Swinging with the Stars - A Retrospective event. Your generous donations will help us continue to provide bereavement and wellness programs to those in our community who are going through loss or are grieving.... Thank you for your support.

We've laughed, cried and danced through these last 12 years! We hope you've enjoyed our full 2021 Swinging with the Stars - A Retrospective! Thank you to all of our celebrity dancers, professional instructors, sponsors, volunteers, behind-the-scenes teams, supporters and guests over the last 12 years of this event.... Your support continues to help those in our own community who are experiencing life's most vulnerable moments. We can't wait to see you all in person soon!

Dermapure Clinics' Team Restore thrilled guests with a blood-chilling routine to Michael Jackson's "Thriller".... This team's steps were spookily good, but their hair and make-up was the sight that shocked! MC College Kelowna went above and beyond with movie-worthy hair and make-up, creating realistic scars, scrapes and blood for the whole group. Professional instructor Jennifer Large loved taking this team out of their comfort zone, but it's about even more than that for her: "It’s been amazing to have a night to celebrate the life of my daughter in my heart, and to connect with people about the services offered." Get thrilled by Team Restore's performance: https://bit.ly/3pICpVd

" , ' ." Matt August and his family created the August Family Foundation to support COHA after the passing of his uncle. Matt and his whole family have gone on to be huge philanthropic supporters of our whole community, while always keeping COHA close to their hearts. Last year alone, Matt lead the charge to raise $314,500 for our Swinging with the Stars eventand now... he's just as dedicated to our virtual Retrospective fundraiser. This year has been especially challenging for those in our community, your donations help COHA to continue to provide compassionate hospice care, as well as essential services and resources to families. Please consider making a donation to Swinging with the Stars so we can continue to support families going through loss and grief in our community: https://bit.ly/39iNRje

Waltz, tap, jive or two-step back in time with us! Our annual Swinging with the Stars event has gone virtual this yearjoin us as we rewind the years for a special Retrospective showcase. Over the last twelve years, our incredible community has raised $2,270,572 to provide compassionate care and services for those experiencing serious illness, end-of-life and bereavement.... Help us continue to offer our resources for free to those in our community, donate today and explore our full Swinging with the Stars Retrospective: https://bit.ly/3cjecAS

Join us for our first Virtual Celebration of Life at 11:00 am today to honour lives well-lived. Our traditions of gathering to celebrate our loved ones' lives may look different these days, but they're no less important. Come together with a compassionate, supportive community to remember the life and the love of those you have lost: https://bit.ly/35pn1oz

We enjoyed a Ho Ho Zoom Holiday Volunteer Party today. It was so nice to see some of our volunteers and make a snowflake, play trivia and hear each others family traditions, favourite foods and holiday music. It’s now time to exchange all of our recipes and try them out for the holidays. Thanks everyone for sharing the love and laughter today .

We’d like to thank our supporters, for their contributions to Homes for the Holidays. Denai Johnson David McIlvride Jenny McKinney, makeup artist... Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate Spatula Media + Communications While we all enjoyed watching Denai as our moderator for the live Q&A, everyone else here contributed to the behind-the-scenes success, and we are forever grateful. With your help, and all of our home owners, sponsors, experts, supporters and attendees, we raised over $63,000.

Week 6 of our family caregiver education series. Talking about pain, medication, enabling wellness and celebrating last days. Thank you Tara Lee from @vantageliving , Mark from CareRX and Sharon Hughes-Geekie from @jumpstartcommunicstions for making today’s presentations. ... Thank you Christina and Patty for behind the scenes, and @unitedwaysibc and Government of Canada Emergency’s Community Support Fund.

Thank you to our Homes for the Holidays sponsors. Events of this magnitude would not happen without the generosity of our sponsors. This year, your belief in our ability to transform this event into a virtual one was so appreciated and encouraging, and we are grateful for your continued support, of Homes for the Holidays and of COHA. Presenting Sponsor: Harmony Honda... Streaming Sponsor: Dignity Memorial Snowflake Sponsor: Pushor Mitchell and Vantage Living Media Sponsors: AM1150, EZRock and Virgin Radio Castanet Boulevard Magazine With your help, and all of our home owners, experts, supporters and attendees, we raised over $63,000.

Our local experts went above and beyond sharing their holiday tips with our attendees. Thank you once more, for your expertise, your time, and your thoughtfulness in joining the Homes for the Holidays Virtual Tour. Visit https://hospicecoha.org//homes-for-the-holi/local-experts/ to download recipes, tip sheets, and more from our local experts. Our local experts were: ... Kristi and James Caldwell, Wiseacre Farm Distillery Nate Martin, Bar None Events Kelle Higgins, Floral Therapy Joanna Schlosser, Niche Wine Co. Izabela de Paz, The Cake Mama, Courtney Ungaro, Courtney Ungaro Space + Design Chef Rod Butters, RauDZ Creative Concepts With your help, and all of our home owners, sponsors, supporters and attendees, we raised over $63,000.

During this session we will be joined by specially trained hospice palliative care volunteers as they present resources and facilitate discussions to begin conversations and make decisions regarding end-of-life care for every member of your family. If you haven’t yet registered for our caregiver education series, but you’d like to, please visit https://hospicecoha.org/programs/caregiver-support-program/ to do so. You can join any of the remaining sessions, which are all offered virtually, from the comfort and safety of your home.

It’s almost November, and that means Homes for the Holidays is less than a month away. This year we have taken the tour virtual and have assembled FIVE incredible homes and SEVEN fabulous experts to get us in the holiday spirit. The homes are so special, and each such a snapshot of the home owner themselves. ... We are so grateful to our home owners for decorating and opening their doors, and to our local experts, who are providing their talents, time, and special skills. All of them care about COHA, our community, and they LOVE the holidays. Thanks to everyone who has purchased a ticket and if you have not time is ticking. They are limited and because we are virtual, we have sold tickets in almost every province in Canada + a few to Christmas fans in the US. Our little Kelowna Homes for the Holidays tour is going international!! Tickets available at https://hospicecoha.org/special-eve/homes-for-the-holidays/ Get yours today so you can join in the magic! See more

Despite everything being different this year and our activities inside Hospice House minimal due to restrictions, we knew we could bring the holidays to the exterior of Hospice House by making it shine brighter. Thank you to Mr. Winter for supporting us in adding many more lights to the exterior trim in front of Hospice House. We were able to decorate inside with 3 trees, and ordered beautiful poinsettias to add some festive red at Hospice House. We even sent poinsettias over to Brookhaven Care Centre in West Kelowna, to add some vibrant colors there too. Thank you to our volunteers for helping add some holiday magic and sparkle, and thank you to our community for your support. Your continued support allows us to provide these touches that create lasting memories.

It’s Wellness Wednesday and we could all use an added spark. Our emphasis these days has been more on self-care and taking care of self during these unprecedented times. It is easier said then done, we know. Here are a few tips that we hope you can put into place today. We promise it will only take a few minutes which will go a long way. 1. Remember to BREATHE We forget to breathe at times. Take 3 DEEP breaths.... 2. PAUSE for one minute Slow down your thinking and focus on an object, something outside or someone. Let yourself just be. 3. Be GENTLE Be kind and gentle with yourself. Reduce your expectations and set realistic goals. You will get to the end goal, but maybe in a different way this time.

We're on location with Harmony Honda, getting ready for Homes for the Holidays. We're so grateful for Harmony Honda's continued support as our Presenting Sponsor for this virtual event. Their belief in our ability to transform from the event we knew into something that even more people could participate in, safely and from home, inspired us in the early days of taking Homes for the Holidays Virtual. Thank you for supporting COHA, and our community.

Today is National Bereavement Day, and we would like to recognize and honour the lives of loved ones no longer with us. At the Central Okanagan Hospice Association, our vision is to create a community where no one has to die or grieve alone. Please watch this message from Jessica Hughes, our Associate Director of Bereavement Services. We at the Central Okanagan Hospice Association are here for you, now, and whenever you need us. ... https://youtu.be/LH8UhikLgkw

Join us to discuss the importance of self-compassion in the context of self-care and the caregiving journey. Learn to notice your inner dialogue or self-talk and recognize that there is often an unconscious component. This can be a download of old critical tapes from the past, which are anything but compassionate. Even a slight shift in this awareness, a one-degree course correction, can result in a significant shift in quality of life for you and also your capacity for compassion for others.

Jillian Harris went all out decorating her home, evoking nostalgic feelings that we always get around the holidays. Her home shared her love of family and traditions, and we were inspired for our own décor. With your help, and all of our home owners, sponsors, experts, supporters and attendees, we raised over $63,000. Thank you to the following businesses who contributed to Jillian’s home: ... Better Earth Gardens red cardinals on Christmas tree Bylands Garden Centre wreaths and garlands House Top Christmas Lights Margaret Valley Landscaping front porch Quilts Etc. Jillian’s bedding The Cake Mama gingerbread house and cookies See more

Join in to the Saying Goodbye Concert. https://m.youtube.com/watch

Integrating a Palliative Approach to Care into our healthcare goals is an important consideration as we age or live with a serious illness. But what is a palliative approach to care and when should one access these services? Join us as we explore the many myths and misunderstandings regarding this approach to care and understand how a palliative approach may improve the quality of life for both care recipients and care givers.

Every Canadian deserves a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones. Tomorrow, please join the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association for a musical journey honouring Canadians experiencing grief during the pandemic. Please visit https://www.chpca.ca/sayinggoodbyeconcert/ to tune in to the concert. ... As always, COHA remains here to support you and your loved ones.

Today is National Philanthropy Day. Today we want to thank you - our generous donors for the contributions you have made to COHA, and therefore to our community. It is because of your gifts and your support that we can continue to build a community where no one has to die or grieve alone, and to be able to offer our services at no cost to our clients, in their most vulnerable moments. Whether you made a donation at one of our events, or in memory of a loved one, or to our Compassion in Crisis campaign, we are forever grateful. Thank you.

Pain is what the person says it is. Dame Cicely Saunders. This is the first principle in understanding pain, in both aging and in serious illness. In this session, participants will learn how the physical, social, spiritual, and psychological aspects of pain can influence our experience of pain and our efforts to provide comfort as caregivers.

Join our panel of health care guests as they present and discuss the joys and challenges of various types of care within our community and knowing when and how to make the decision to transition care between home and long-term care facilities. If you haven’t yet registered for our caregiver education series, but you’d like to, please visit https://hospicecoha.org/programs/caregiver-support-program/ to do so. You can join any of the remaining sessions, which are all offered virtually, from the comfort and safety of your home.

Be grateful, all day, every day.

As we age or become ill our appetites and nutrition needs change. Understanding how honoring the care recipient’s nutrition and hydration choices to maintain dignity, control, and autonomy to maximize their quality of life can be difficult for caregivers. This can become a source of stress as caregivers adapt to the ever-changing needs of care recipients as well as their own expectations and confidence to adequately care in the feeding and hydration of loved ones. Please join Registered Dietitian Noelle Pascoe as she presents both information and practical strategies surrounding nutrition and hydration in aging and end of life, as it relates to the caregiver.

Yesterday marked the inaugural National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day, and all week there will be information shared across social media about the importance of pediatric hospice palliative care. Myth: Hospice palliative care is just for seniors. Fact: Hospice palliative care is provided for people of all ages, including children with serious illness.... Pediatric hospice palliative care is an active, holistic approach to care which focuses on relieving the physical, social, psychological and spiritual suffering experienced by children and families who face a serious illness, and helping them fulfill their physical, psychological, social and spiritual goals. COHA is committed to supporting children and their families, on their journey with serious illness, and after. Please join us in highlighting the importance of quality hospice palliative care for individuals of all ages.

Our Homes for the Holidays tour has traditionally been a self-guided tour of private homes where hundreds of ticket holders would visit each home enjoying both the holiday décor and the festive spirit of the annual event. This year, we have moved to a virtual format with our homes owners not only decorating their homes but acting as tv host and tour guide, leading the camera through their home. Ticket holders can enjoy the tour on their phone, laptop or smart tv on Saturd...ay, November 28th at 6:45pm. We are excited to reveal the generous home owners who will be opening their doors to our cameras and tour guests this November. Vintage enthusiast and stylist Kim Andrei Social entrepreneur and community leader, Linda Stober Creative grandmother, baker, and never afraid of a little DIY, Janet Kluftinger A master of DIY, vintage lover, thrift store renovator and stylist Jessalyn Broadfoot Mother of two, lifestyle guru, interior designer, cookbook author and cheerleader for small Canadian businesses, Jillian Harris Tickets now on sale at https://hospicecoha.org/special-eve/homes-for-the-holidays/ Please note: Tickets are limited. Tour Date: Saturday, November 28 at 6:45 pm. Homes for the Holidays YLW Wiseacre Farm Distillery Courtney Ungaro RauDZ Regional Table The Okanagan Table Floral Therapy Kelowna Jillian Harris Spatula Media + Communications

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. Stay grateful and stay connected. Our office is closed today for thanksgiving.

Caring for a friend or family member at home brings several challenges to our daily lives and routines. Our first family caregiver education session will share practical tips, information, and resources for caring for a loved one at home. This includes health & safety in the home; mobility and transferring; bathing and comfort and where to find community resources to assist and complement our caregiving abilities. Please visit https://hospicecoha.org/programs/caregiver-support-program/ to register today. This virtual session will take place on October 17th.

MYTH: My physician hasn’t mentioned it to me, so I must not need it. FACT: Patients can initiate conversations with health care teams related to hospice palliative care. MYTH: Receiving palliative care means I’ve admitted to defeat. FACT: Palliative care is for any one at any stage of their illness, aimed at improving quality of life for patients and families.... MYTH: Palliative care is a location, not a resource. FACT: Hospice palliative care is a SERVICE that be be provided in many settings, including the patients’ home. COHA is here for you, your family, and your loved ones at any stage in your journey.

This is a home that we’ve been so excited to see fully decorated for the holidays. Social media makes us feel that we know her so well, but for this holiday season she is sharing more than ever before, as she takes the cameras through the front door to see her home decorated for Christmas 2020. We’ll be feeling twinges of holiday nostalgia from the moment that door handle turns. Tickets Available at https://hospicecoha.org/special-eve/homes-for-the-holidays/ Virtual Tour Date - November 28

Think flamingos think flocked Christmas trees This creative thrift store guru can turn anything into spectacular-ness that makes our heads spin, wondering ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ She credits her Mom and her ‘let’s get it done’ approach when designing her own creative nest. We can’t wait to open this condo door and transport you to an entirely different city. ... Tickets Available at https://hospicecoha.org/special-eve/homes-for-the-holidays/ Virtual Tour Date - November 28