2015 Annual Report

A Letter to the Communities We Serve...

2 015 was a very busy and exciting year for Hospice of the Calumet Area. Once again we provided quality, compassionate care to over 1,000 individuals & families living with a life-

limiting illness; and we did so regardless of their ability to pay. This included care at our hospice house, the William J. Riley Memorial Residence, and those receiving support in our free, palliative, Transitions™ program. Transitions™ is a special program for those dealing with serious illness, but not yet hospice ready. Over 17,500 individuals have been helped by these two programs since Hospice of the Calumet Area began providing care in the region. When you factor in our free adult, teen and children’s grief support groups, which are open to the community, the numbers grow exponentially. Hospice of the Calumet Area cares for individuals regardless of their age or diagnosis. One of the myths regarding hospice care is that it is only for patients who have a cancer diagnosis. For the first time, Hospice of the Calumet Area cared for more patients with non-cancer medical conditions than patients who had cancer. Individuals who had heart disease or who had suffered a stroke accounted for 19% of our hospice patients. Patients ranged in age from twenty-eight years old to 105 years old. Patients over 80 years of age are our largest care population, accounting for 40% of the hospice patients we cared for in 2015, including 12 individuals 100 years of age or older. Control of patients’ pain and symptoms are at the core of hospice care. But care of the family is also a critical component, especially for our Social Workers and Spiritual Counselors. Last year a new project, Bags from Bob, was started by the late Nancy Feldman, a Hospice of the Calumet Area social worker, who believed that caregivers are a key element in total patient care. The bags are filled with comfort items and are given to those special individuals who are caring for loved ones in our hospice program. The caregivers are very grateful for the acknowledgement of their role in hospice care. Hospice of the Calumet Area continues this project, now Bags from Bob and Nancy with community support in dedication to Nancy’s vision and giving spirit. Hospice of the Calumet Area was founded by volunteers and they remain at the heart of our organization. During 2015, our hospice program volunteer hours increased by 5.25% for total

Hospice of the Calumet Area believes that caregivers are a key element in total patient care and should know that they do not walk alone.

Adrianne May, Executive Director David Nellans, Board President

hours of 13,067 and a cost savings of $301,450. In 2015, we also had a very unique volunteer fundraising activity thanks to our Board member Mitch Gaffigan and his internationally known brother Jim Gaffigan. Jim graciously volunteered to headline an event to raise funds for Hospice of the Calumet Area. Mitch worked hand-in-hand with our team to make the night perfect in every way and a resounding success, raising over $100,000. Mitch and Jim’s mother Marcia was a founding member of our Friends of Hospice auxiliary and their father Mike was also on our Board of Directors, making it a true volunteer and mission driven labor of love. We are so very grateful to all who sponsored and attended the Gaffigan event, as well as the countless vol-unteers who gave of their time. It made a night to remember for Hospice of the Calumet Area and the NWI community. Hospice of the Calumet Area is blessed to serve this amazing Region and be able to provide the highest quality care for individuals and families. The 2015 value of our charity care, sequestration reductions and other adjustments totaled $2.1 mil in uncompensated care. With your help we will achieve our vision of providing care, compassion and comfort for all facing a life-limiting illness.

“I am so grateful for the Help I received from all the Hospice Staff. All I wanted was to ease my husband’s pain and end his suffering. Hospice helped me do that. He was much more comfortable at home than in the hospital. Thank you.”- J.O.

Courtesy of Royce Photography

Hospice Honors

H ospice of the Calumet Area staff and volunteers work tirelessly to provide the highest quality of services to our patients and their family members. Each day we receive

notes and cards from patients’ family members, expressing gratitude for the excellent care their loved ones received and for the support provided to them by our trained hospice profes-sionals. These sentiments are truly appreciated and provide encouragement that reinforces our commitment to the hospice mission. We are also very proud of the fact that Hospice of the Calumet Area was named a 2015 Hospice Honors recipient by Deyta Analytics for our satisfaction survey results. Hospice Honors is a prestigious program that recognizes hospices providing the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. Hospice Honors recipients score higher than the national average on at least twenty of twenty-four satisfaction questions. We are the only Indiana Hospice Honors recipient to be recognized for 2014 and 2015 care. Hospice of the Calumet Area is grateful for the positive comments provided by our families and is honored to be a national Hospice Honors recipient. We are proud of our staff and volunteers who demonstrate their commitment to our mission by Cherishing Life each and every day.

“It’s sad when a family member enters hospice, but your staff is exceptional. Our entire family was so appreciative of my father’s care. Very special people that work there. We love them all. Thank you for what you do!” — L.A.

Hospice of the Calumet Area was the only Indiana Hospice

Honors recipient to be recognized for excellence in care for

both 2014 and 2015.

Hospice by the numbers...

Program Service 80%

Management & General

14%

Development 4%

Expenses by Category

Medicare 68%

Medicaid 3%

Insurance 6%

Public Support 21%

Self Pay 2%

Revenue by Category

85+ 40.0%

60-64 5.5%

40-59 8.1%

0-39 0.2%

Patients by Age

Circulatory 19.3%

Patients by Diagnosis

Cancer 48.4%

Respiratory 8.8%

Central Urinary 4.4%

Nervous 9.1%

Digestive 2.7%

Other 1.9%

80-84 15.3%

75-79 12.8%

65-74 18.1%

Community Awareness/Education

2%

Ill Defined 5.4%

H ospice of the Calumet Area is fortunate to have a very special group of volunteers working to ensure that we have ample resources to provide the highest level of care possible for our

patients. The Hospice Artisans was formed in 2006 and is a group of women and men who create high quality handcrafted merchandise that is sold for the sole purpose of donating all dollars raised to Hospice of the Calumet Area. More than 60 volunteers make up the Hospice Artisans, each with her/his own artistic style. They share a passion for paper, textiles, color, design–and most of all, a love for the hospice mission. Their reputation for creating unique, fashionable gift items has broadened exponentially over the past ten years, and they are invited throughout the region to be vendors at special events hosted by fellow charities, churches and synagogues, and civic organi-

zations. Over the past three years they have organized the Hospice Artisans’ Holiday Gift Boutique, which attracts more than 400 hospice supporters who come to purchase their wares in support of Hospice of the Calumet Area.

The Artisans receive underwriting for supplies from a local family foundation and the Artisans themselves purchase many of the materials that they transform into merchandise. In addition to robust sales, other generous individuals and businesses contribute financially each year, bringing the total revenue from the Artisans as of December 31, 2015 to approximately $400,000!

The Hospice Artisans has been recognized nationally and regionally for its innovative creations as well as its organizational structure. Several cards, which are sold bearing the logo “hospice card artisans (hca2)”, were selected for inclusion in the book 1000 Greeting Cards, published in 2009. In October 2012, the group was inducted into the Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana in the category of Team Innovation.

As its inventory expands, so do its artists, developing new creative and technical skills. Many take classes taught by a nationally-known artist and attend workshops around the country. They visit trade shows, galleries and museum exhibits for trends and inspiration, while collecting fabric and papers on trips all over the world. This level of commitment, along with a desire to present the highest quality product for the benefit of those served by Hospice of the Calumet Area, has led to personal satisfaction, immense pride and abiding friendships among the Artisans while raising the public’s awareness of hospice care.

Hospice Artisans

A sample of the wonderful merchandise created by the

Hospice Artisans.

I f you’ve never experienced the loss of a loved one, it’s hard to be prepared for the rush of emotions the grief journey can bring. Grieving is a process that can be very different and

deeply personal for each member of the family. Providing support to families and loved ones after a patient’s death is a crucial part of hospice care, a service which is also ex-tended to the community. Our Healing Hearts grief support services focus on the entire family and offer focused counseling for adults, children and teens—so that every family member can find the right approach to making healthy adjustments to loss. Hospice of the Calumet Area recognizes that the grief experienced by children and teens is often a new experi-ence for them. These young people need to know that they are not alone at this most difficult time in their lives. Healing Hearts offers helpful information and support in a comfortable atmosphere for sharing feelings and experiences, struggles and triumphs. We provide support while allowing the young person a chance to learn about both the joy and pain that comes from caring deeply for others. Our groups are facilitated by credentialed Bereavement Counselors and cover a variety of topics, such as: Getting to Know You and Your Loved One, Dealing with Feelings, Understanding My Feelings, Remembering, Coping with Change and Moving On. A past participant of Healing Hearts for Teens describes her appreciation for the group as she states, “I am very pleased with how the group is being run and so is my mom. It helps me a lot in my daily life.” Healing Hearts grief support is avail-able at no cost to anyone in the community, whether or not they had a loved one in hospice care.

Healing Hearts Grief Support for Teens & Kids...

HCA Bereavement Counselor, Diana Mladenovic, meets with Julian Barbora in

a Healing Hearts for Kids support session.

600 Superior Ave, Munster, IN 46321 3224 Ridge Rd, Lansing, IL 60438 P 219.922.2732/708.895.8332, F 219.922.1947

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2015 Board of Directors

Adrianne May, Executive Director

Emeritus Members Nate Carras

Monsignor Joseph Semancik

Ruthellyn Bobak

Rev. Steven Conger

Linda Delunas, Ph.D.

Gene Diamond

Janice Dobrinich

Linda Eisenhauer

Donald Fesko

M. “Red” Fulte

Mitchell Gaffigan

R. Louie Gonzalez

Rebecca Grove

William A. Hasse, III

Rev. Dr. Alfred Johnson

Patricia Kish

Patty Lazzaro

Joanne Markiewicz

Jeffrey Monberg

Cheryl Morgan-Ihrig, M.D.

Rocharda Moore Morris

Lyle Munn, M.D.

Paula Neff

Ralph Neff

David Nellans, President

Terrence Quinn

Linda Randolph

Richard Reffkin, D.D.S

David Schneider

Gloria Smokvina, Ph.D.

John Stephens

Rabbi Leonard Zukrow

Debbie Rollo, ex-officio

Hospice of the Calumet Area names Emeritus Board Member It is with great respect and admiration that we name Eleanor Kay-Mirich as an Emeritus Board Member. Eleanor was elected to the Board on June 7, 1985. The year, 2015 marked her 30th year anniversary of serving on our Board of Directors. During her tenure with HCA, Eleanor served as Board President from 1990 – 1992 and as our Marketing / Development Committee Chair from 2000 – 2008; she continued as a Development Committee member until 2011. Eleanor has been a staunch supporter of Hospice of the Calumet Area in so many ways. She was a substantial contributor to the Capital Campaign that built the William J. Riley Memorial Residence. Eleanor was also instrumental in developing the “Hospice Helps Me” children’s book and the HCA Care to Share resale shop. We are truly grateful for her many contributions to HCA and the thousands of lives that were touched as a result of her hard work and dedication.