Serving our Nations Heroes – A Call to Action for the New Year

Looking back on 2011, Covenant Hospice has much to celebrate as an organization truly committed to serving our nations heroes. We have achieved Partnership Status in the nationally recognized initiative, We Honor Veterans, a program sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that invites hospices to facilitate, increase, and improve quality of care [...]

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Resolve to GIVE BACK in 2012!

In Covenant Hospice’s Volunteer Department, there is no shortage of inspiration.  In fact, on any given day, dozens of Covenant Volunteers can be found assisting patients and families, helping in our offices, or educating the community about the services provided by our organization.   Our volunteers are a constant source of inspiration to me in my [...]

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Sometimes I wonder…

I was talking with one of our volunteers, Peg McElroy,  in the Pensacola Branch Office the other day and she was telling me the story of a patient she had been visiting that touched her in a special way.  I found her story so moving, that I asked her to write it up so that [...]

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Out with the “old”?

This new year is in full swing now…so chances are you’ve said or heard it said already “out with the old, in with the new.” Have you ever considered that saying? Do we really need to put everything behind us and press ahead to newer and better things and places? I wonder. Yes, I get [...]

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Touch Therapy

As the social worker for Alzheimer’s Family Services, I talk with many families and professionals every day and fairly frequently I have the opportunity to speak to the community about Alzheimer’s. It was at one of these recent speaking engagements that I was going through my usual presentation about Alzheimer’s and communication and came across [...]

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I can donate that?!

Most of us with unused household items or never-worn clothing would make a short trip to the local thrift store, donating them for a quick tax-deduction. Well, what do you do with a late model vehicle that seems to be consistently racking up hundreds of dollars in repair expenses? What about the boat that has [...]

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Sophia’s Story

Sophia was a happy baby girl, born into a family of four with two big brothers excited about their little sister and parents excited about a little girl. Sophia was diagnosed with severe reflux soon after birth. However, other symptoms begin to appear as she grew. By 8 months old, Sophia had poor weight gain, continued [...]

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Congratulations to…

…Kasey Bowers, Covenant’s Employee of the Month for January!  Kasey is an RN in the Daphne Branch.  Read how her coworkers’ describe Kasey’s great work: Kasey always provides such thorough and compassionate care for her patients, truly tailoring her visits and plan of care to their needs.  Kasey has a loving, calm manner.  She is able [...]

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My New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year!  The beginning of a new year is an exciting time for me.  I’m a goal-setter — the kind of person who really enjoys setting my sites on something new and laying out the steps needed to get there.  I write down weekly goals every Monday, quarterly goals for my work, and, of [...]

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My Connect to Purpose Moment

It was 2006 when I met Mrs. Vivian “Tommy” Adams while collecting narratives for the Faces of Life book, a collection of stories from Covenant patients and family members.  Mrs. Tommy had dementia, but to look in her face was to know that she was, and always had been, all about kindness and giving and [...]

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Loss During the Holidays

For many of us, particularly those of us who have suffered the death of a loved one during the holidays, this time of year can be most difficult.  Sometimes when everything is under control, a story, a memory, a song creep up on me and a “bitter sweetness” fills my heart reminding me that the empty space in [...]

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White Christmas

The chances of Northwest Florida having a “white” Christmas is pretty slim. A few years ago, we had what I would call a “Florida white Christmas”–it hailed on Christmas Day. It was “white” precipitation. Nonetheless, my young kids bought it! Chances are we did not have snow and a reason to snuggle up by the [...]

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Coping during the Holidays

Immediately after the loss of a loved one, all of the emotions seem overwhelming.  As time passes, the pain may seem to ease and our feelings might soften a bit.  Just when many of us think we are coping well, events or reminders can take us immediately back to the intense feelings of grief and [...]

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