All the participants in the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice Day Program are coping with lifethreatening illnesses, but they share a lot more than that when they get together each week in the hospice’s home-like great room.

It’s not just the hot lunch, tasty snacks and friendly volunteers. Participants also share their stories, talents and worries. As one put it: “The day hospice program helps me to remember that there is more to me than my illness.”

While participants have access to therapeutic care in the form of consultations with a registered nurse as well as counselling on coping strategies, legacies and family dynamics, often it’s the social aspects that stand out. Music is often on the program and one recent “concert” captured the essence of what the day program and the hospice itself are all about.

A hospice resident who was an accomplished fiddler was invited to share his music in the day program one afternoon. Some of his musician friends and his son had also come to join in, but our fiddler was nervous. Too weak to get out of bed, he was afraid of letting his audience down. But when the staff wheeled his bed and his oxygen set-up into the great room and played some of his recordings for the gathering, it was the start of something special.

Although he had been able to do little but tap his toes to the music, when his son asked his fragile dad to sing, our fiddler amazed everyone with his performance. This inspired another client to sing solos she remembered from her church choir, and the session wound up with a heartfelt rendition of Amazing Grace.

Hospice staff and volunteers listened in when they could and won’t soon forget the experience.

While there is not a concert every week, there is always something to do, someone to talk to and a relaxing atmosphere at day hospice. In addition, participants are offered such “comfort services” as massages, manicures, reflexology and therapeutic touch. Horticultural therapy, crafts, art and poetry are used to help participants express themselves. Cards and other games are just plain fun.

The program, which is under the supervision of RN Mary Klingenberg, assisted by specially trained volunteers, aims to help people live life to the fullest.

The hospice’s Home-Visit program shares the same goals. This program matches carefully screened and trained volunteers one-on-one with clients living in the community.

Both programs also give caregivers some much-needed worry-free down time.

Like all the services of the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice on Stone Church Road, these programs are offered free to people in Hamilton and the surrounding communities who are coping with lifethreatening illnesses.

Some people contact the hospice directly to become involved, others are referred by health professionals, family or friends.

For information about the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice Day Program, phone Mary Klingenberg at 905-387-2448, ext. 2209, or email her at mary.klingenberg@hwcn.org