Welcome to 
The Golden View
May 2020 Edition

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Tree of Life
A Light to the Community
in Times of Darkness
by Tiffany Stietz, 
​ Community Relations Coordinator, Hospice of Dubuque

Strong and thriving, a katsura tree stands in Washington Park. Hospice of Dubuque volunteers and staff planted the tree in the mid-1990s. Today, it serves as the Tree of Life, representing how one small seedling can grow into a beautiful and strong symbol—unshakable, even in the fiercest of storms. The roots holding up the tree are like friends, family, and community, lifting one another with hope. The heart-shaped leaves symbolize those we love.

Like this tree, we all have one thing in common. We are resilient. In the grief of losing a loved one, we must weather the challenges of daily life and the passage of time. And, just like the tree that was planted, our journey needs nurturing.

Each year since its planting, the community has gathered to share music, prayer, reflection, and lighting of this tree. The Hospice of Dubuque Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers are honored to invite the entire community to the Annual Tree of Life Memorial Service and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, at 7:30 pm. For up-to-date information on the event location, please visit www.hospiceofdubuque.org. The Tree of Life will remain lit through Memorial Day weekend.

Help us to ensure that quality, compassionate hospice care and bereavement services are available to our tri-state community. Anyone may submit a donation to add a light to the Tree of Life display in honor or memory of a loved one. Gifts are tax-deductible and can be submitted online at www.hospiceofdubuque.org or mailed to Hospice of Dubuque, 1670 JFK Road, Dubuque, IA 52002. To ensure the name of a loved one is included in the printed program, donations must reach the Hospice of Dubuque office by May 14.

Summer Dreams

Surely our world will be back to normal this summer ... right? Surely we’ll be able to get out of the house without fearing every person who comes near us. We’ll be able to leisurely wander through the grocery store, which will be stocked as it used to be. We’ll stop to talk to friends on the street and sit in coffee shops and chat. We’ll attend church, go to our meetings, stroll through the neighborhood admiring the flowers and take part in our exercise classes.

Surely we’ll be able to do those things again, right?

Yes. We will. But first we have to get there. To get back to where we used to be, we have to stay healthy now.

We need exercise to stay healthy. Even if you can’t go to a class, you can find plenty of them for seniors on YouTube. Look through the offerings and bookmark a few. Rotate through them on a daily basis so you don’t get bored. Go to youtube.com and put “exercises for seniors” in the search box. Some of them are even broken down by age.

We need to stay mentally healthy as well, despite the television news. Check the Good News Network online [www.goodnewsnetwork.org] for positive, uplifting stories. You also can put “good news” in your browser search box.

It’s been difficult to get grocery store deliveries in a lot of areas because they have little stock. However, if you get delivery of your prescriptions (many pharmacies are providing this service now), call to ask whether they can add a few things to your order. Many drugstores carry soups, crackers, milk, canned fruits and vegetables, bottled water and snacks — some even carry a limited supply of fresh fruit. 

We can get through this, especially if we turn off the television news.

© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Features This Month!

Read about medical tips on our Health Page: Click Here

Take a look back with our pictures from "Down Memory Lane" on our Culture page: Click here

Read about all the events happening around the Tri-States: Click Here

​Get a Laugh from our Comics and Games on our Activities Page: Click Here

Sunshine Through the Clouds 
at Bethany Home
by Joan Hoerner LBSW,
​Admissions Director

Everyone is feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, whether it be fear, financial stress, or social distancing. But no population is as affected at this time by isolation as those living in care facilities. With visitors being limited, dining partners being separated, and group activities being sharply curtailed, many of the social activities enjoyed by care facility residents are on hold. At Bethany Home, we are being creative and spontaneous to make up for life’s new rules and to provide a little sunshine in what may be considered a cloudy day for our residents.

Nothing is better for a person’s outlook than to enjoy some vitamin D in the form of sunshine. That is why we have set up outdoor seating for residents to enjoy while still maintaining all social distancing rules. We have also changed our décor to bring the outside world in. Our walls are adorned with local outdoor scenes as well as wildlife photos that bring a rainbow of colors to the hallways and windows of Bethany Home. 

Dubuque area children have sent inspirational quotes and cards to our residents that are on display for all to enjoy. Special meals and treats such as barbecue day and root beer floats give our residents something different to enjoy. Exercise also plays an important role in our resident’s frame of mind and Bethany Home offers many types of physical activities that maintain both their physical and mental well-being.

And to make up for personal visits, Bethany Home is using iPads and iPhones with our residents so they may Facetime, Zoom or Skype with friends and relatives or simply make a phone call. We have also hired additional staff so that we can provide one-on-one activities. Whether it be singing songs, doing crafts or praying, we have designed and are offering activities that focus on the lifestyle and previous interests of each individual.

Bethany Home offers a full spectrum of care under one room. We have 51 Independent Living Apartments with 24-hour help available as needed. We also offer 54 SNF/ICF beds with a 12-bed Memory Care Unit.

Please call or email Joan Hoerner, LBSW/Admissions Director for more information or to set up a tour at Bethany Home. She can be reached by calling 563-556-5233 or emailing her at jhoerner@bethanyhomedubuque.org.

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