President-Elect Laurie Harrison turned the podium over to Jeff Wells, Vice President in Charge of Programs, to introduce Bill Eisenbeiss, our Rotarian of the Day. It seems that Bill is a Norfolk native and proud of it! Bill also served in the Navy on a destroyer based out of San Diego from 1965-68, during the Vietnam War surge. Bill served as Vice President of Military Publications at Landmark Communications for many years before his retirement. He and his wife, Michael, have recently moved to Harbor Towers and are still unpacking.
Bill had the honor of introducing our speaker, Dean Nowotny who works for Legacy Hospice, went to Emerson College in Massachusetts, then a Bible college, and finally finished with a Ph.D. from Liberty University. Ray Lafferty, Community Liaison, came along to assist with technology and other aspects of the hospice program.
Dean focused his talk on the role of Hospice in caring for those whose prognosis is likely terminal in the short term. Dean asserted that Hospice is designed to improve the quality of life by providing ‘palliative care.’ Over seventy percent of adults would prefer to stay in their home rather than spend their last days or months in a facility. Many patients live longer in hospice; this situation depends on when an individual is accepted into hospice. Sometimes it is better to face the inevitable sooner rather than later.
Medicare and Medicaid pay the hospice provider, so the cost is not borne by the patient or the family. (Tricare also covers Hospice, but some insurance providers do not include it. So it’s best to check.) Hospice providers instruct how to care for the individual; the nursing team is on call 24/7.
The hospice provider can assist families with obtaining advanced medical directives, wills, funeral homes, etc. Each individual is assigned a nurse who visits periodically; home health aides assist with bathing and other needs. Some volunteers can visit and provide a few hours of attention when caregivers need to get away for errands. Hospice does NOT provide in-home care daily.
During the question and answer session, we learned that Chick Robison is part of a team raising $8M to build a twelve-bed in-patient facility, The Hospice House of South Hampton Roads. Chick said that it is harder than he thought to raise money for this endeavor.
Judge Joe Massey chimed in that there is an Edmarc Hospice for children in Portsmouth. That is a niche that has a slightly different focus.
Barb Lipskis asked what is the patient-to-nurse ratio? Answer: each nurse supports twelve patients at Legacy Hospice. Other contractors have a higher ratio. Each CNA supports six patients.
Finally, Bob Heely reminded everyone that if your loved one is in a long-term care facility, they will have a contract with a hospice provider. So, you won’t have to find one yourself.
The Meeting
President-Elect Laurie Harrison in her first foray at the podium rang the bell and introduced Chip Vogan to lead our singing. Chip chose “Harvest Moon,” “Sing Rotarians,” and “Eternal Father” in honor of Veterans. Following the pledge and the Four-Way Test, Chuck Spence provided an invocation also focused on Veterans both retired and currently serving.
Visitation/Introduction of Visitors
Brian McGuire informed us that Marilyn Gowen was not around because she is supervising painters—so not to worry about her absence. Henry Butler is visiting his grandson in Berlin. Sally Hartman is in Texas with her sister who suffered a devastating car accident and the loss of her brother-in-law due to cancer earlier this month.
Mark Shaw introduced Chris Bugg who brought a colleague, Dan Bortell, who proceeded to win the daily raffle.
Club Business
President-Elect Laurie announced that Lake Taylor Middle School was the School of the Week. There will be a Million Bulb Walk at Norfolk Botanical Gardens at 5:30 pm on December 9th. Make your reservations online; members get a reduced rate.
The Holiday Social is scheduled for December 21st with more details to follow. (No lunch meeting on that day!)
Walt Sobczyk announced that there will be a food distribution opportunity at the Basilica of St. Mary’s on Nov. 17th. The Girl Scouts in Chesapeake need help with physical labor on Nov. 20th; power washing, landscape work, etc. The Salvation Army will need help with the distribution of gifts; more info to come.
Happy Bucks & Fines
- Judge Bruce Wilcox was happy to announce the birth of his seventh grandchild, George, on Oct. 24th.
- Steve Jones and his wife were happy because they attended a Rolling Stones concert—with no mosh pit.
- Bill Davis gave happy bucks for the 246th birthday of the Marine Corps.
- Jim Kitz provided money for the victory of Army over the Air Force; he also suggested that Navy would be going down hard when they meet.
- Chris Bugg rose to the bait and put $100 on a bet that Navy will win.
- Tom Koller put in happy bucks because Devin’s brain tumor has been sizably reduced by radiation.
- Jeff Wells donated because of an art installation in Ocean View that we helped to fund.
- Alan Nelson contributed because he’s got a granddaughter going to work for Expedia (and they’re all hoping for cheap flights).
Bill McInnis brought in the raffle, won by Dan Bortelle. President-Elect Laurie reminded us that we have a meeting next week which will be a Club Assembly and some Rotarian biographies.