Chautauqua Hospice Butterfly Release (2022)

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care will hold its annual Service of Remembrance and Memorial Butterfly Release on Saturday, June 3.

The event offers an opportunity for individuals to honor and commemorate their loved ones, both virtually and in-person at the agency’s Lakewood offices.

The deadline to purchase butterflies and submit loved ones’ names is Tuesday, May 30.

Butterflies can be picked up between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3rd, at the CHPC Lakewood Office at 20 West Fairmount Avenue or at the CHPC Fredonia Office at 3780 Eagle Street.

For more information, visit chpc.care/butterfly.

Staff gather to show off a few of the bags folks can win at CHPC’s Designer Bag Bingo

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care is holding its Designer Bag Bingo event tonight.

The doors open for the event at 6:00 p.m. at the Lakewood American Legion. Tickets are $30.

The event features bags, purses, and wallets from well-known designers like Kate Spade, Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Michael Kors, Fossil, and Patricia Nash.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The fundraiser helps CHPC continue its mission to provide specialized end-of-life care to patients, their families, and caregivers in Chautauqua County.

For more information, visit CHPC.care/bingo/

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a point of transparency and disclosure to our audience, Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care is a corporate underwriter for WRFA and has provided a financial contribution for the general operations of the station within the past year. Funding we receive for General Operations is not used to fund our coverage of local news in the community. That is only made possible through a Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

Christina Anderson

Christina Anderson has been appointed the new director of The Star Hospice House.

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care officials said Anderson brings 26 years of experience to the position working with seniors in a skilled nursing facility as well as a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field.

Anderson assumed her new role as director on February 21, 2023.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a point of transparency and disclosure to our audience, Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care is a corporate underwriter for WRFA and has provided a financial contribution for the general operations of the station within the past year. Funding we receive for General Operations is not used to fund our coverage of local news in the community. That is only made possible through a Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care promote “Wild 80’s” Annual Gala

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care‘s Annual Gala takes place this Saturday, February 18.

The Gala, themed “Wild 80’s,” will take place at the Chautauqua Suites in Mayville. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at CHPC.care/gala.

The evening will feature food, music, prizes for best costumes, a basket raffle, and line dancing lesson. There also will be an Air Band Contest.

All proceeds from the gala will support Chautauqua Hospice and the Star Hospice House.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a point of transparency and disclosure to our audience, Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care is a corporate underwriter for WRFA and has provided a financial contribution for the general operations of the station within the past year. Funding we receive for General Operations is not used to fund our coverage of local news in the community. That is only made possible through a Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

Butterfly art work for Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care art auction and charity event

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care‘s 6th Annual Butterfly Art and Charity Auction returns tonight.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. at the Chautauqua Suites in Mayville for the event, which includes a buffet dinner.

The art auction will feature butterfly art from schools across Chautauqua County representing more than 100 students. In addition to these works, area businesses and C-H-P-C supporters have donated items for the auction including sports jerseys, musical instruments, and more. Attendees can also participate in a basket raffle.

All proceeds from the Butterfly Art and Charity Auction support CHPC and the new Star Hospice House.

Tickets for adults are $25 with those age 17 and under admitted free. Tickets can be purchased online at CHPC.care/auction/

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care

Testa will succeed Kris Brombacher, who served as interim CEO during the search and who will continue as Vice President of Clinical Services. Testa assumed responsibilities on July 18.

Testa comes to CHPC with more than 20 years of managerial and leadership experience in healthcare, business administration and education. He relocated to Chautauqua County from Billings, Montana where he worked at RiverStone Health for more than nine years, the last two serving as vice president of Home Care and Hospice Services.

Testa earned a Bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University, and an MBA from Fitchburg State University.

Star Hospice House Ribbon Cutting

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care celebrated the completion of Star Hospice House at a ribbon cutting February 8.

This is Chautauqua County’s first dedicated hospice facility. It will serve as many as 200 patients per year. The facility includes rooms and living spaces for families to rest, prepare meals, and focus on their loved one.

County Executive PJ Wendel, who lives nearby and watched the project develop every day, said palliative care used to be a floor in the hospital with an institutional setting. He said the Star Hospice House gives families a sense of peace and the feeling of spending their last days in their own home, “One of the things that has been resonating in the last couple weeks in dealing with situations that have occurred, is that how we take care of one another, how compassionate we are as a community, and what we do for one another, especially here in Chautauqua County, is something I’m very proud to represent. Howard Bruckner said this in a quote, ‘The patients and the families may not remember what you said to them but they will always remember how you made them feel,’ and the Star House will do just that.”

Chautauqua Hospice purchased the home adjacent to its Lakewood office in 2019 and started a fundraising campaign in 2020 to renovate the house that ultimately exceeded its goal of $2.1 million with a total of $2.7 million in donations.

Campaign Co-Chairs Mary Rappole and Dr. Bert Rappole said the goal is always to make it so families can be at their own homes while a loved one is dying, but that’s not always possible, “And then when they get toward the end, they can’t take care of themselves in their own facilities, their own homes, so they would be forced to go to a nursing home. This will provide a place where they can die with the care providers who have been with them, the nurses who have been taking care of them, and there’s a place in the house for the family to come from L.A. or New York and stay with them.”

Dr. Rappole and Mary Rappole both thanked the local foundations who donated almost $700,000 toward the project with the rest of the donations coming from the community members, businesses, and other organizations.

WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley spoke with Chautauqua Hospice‘s Star Hospice House Residence Director Laura McCollough about the new facility that is nearing completion in the village of Lakewood.

Laura McCollough

• AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE AT SOUNDCLOUD

WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Dr. Bert Rappole and his wife Mary Rappole about the Our House Campaign, an effort by Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care to create a hospice house to serve resident across the county.

Hospice has set out to raise $2.1 million. Called the “Our House” campaign, this will allow us to buy, renovate and construct the residence, as well as establish endowment and reserve funds to guard the residence and agency from adverse conditions.

More info

[MEDIA RELEASE]

MAYVILLE – Suicide is a serious public health problem that takes an enormous toll on families, friends, classmates, co-workers, and communities. Uncovering the reasons for an individual suicide death is complex and challenging.  Suicide deaths are usually not precipitated by one cause only.

If you suspect someone may be at risk for suicide, take it seriously. Fifty to 75 percent of people who attempt suicide tell someone about their intention in some way; sometimes it can be obvious but other times we might need to be aware of more subtle signs. Ask the person questions. Begin by telling the person that you feel is at risk that you are concerned about them. Tell them specifically what they have said or done that makes you feel concerned about suicide. Don’t be afraid to ask whether the person is considering suicide, and whether they have a particular plan or method in mind. These questions will not push them toward suicide if they were not considering it.  Do not be afraid to use the word suicide; asking directly about suicide is important in prevention. Many times a person who is thinking of suicide wants someone to listen to the pain that they are experiencing.

Do not try to argue someone out of suicide. Instead, let them know you care, they are not alone and they can get help. Avoid pleading and preaching to them with statements such as, “You have so much to live for,” or “Your suicide will hurt your family.” And finally, actively encourage the person to see a physician or mental health professional immediately. People considering suicide often believe they cannot be helped. If you can, assist them to identify a medical professional in their community and schedule an appointment.  If you are concerned that the person is in immediate danger, call 911 or the Chautauqua County Crisis Hotline at 1-800-724-0461.

Social media also offers resources to help. For example, when someone is talking or posting about suicide on Facebook, please report the post by selecting the option, ‘I think it shouldn’t be on Facebook,’ then select, ‘It’s threatening, violent or suicidal,’ and then the option, ‘Self-injury or suicide.’ You will then be able to select an option including support to your friend, reach out to a friend you trust, receive tips from suicide prevention experts on how to help, or you can select to have Facebook review the post.

“We want to stress that there is a lot of help and supports in our community,” said Victoria Patti, Coordinator of the Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention. “It is better to report the concern to a medical professional or call 911, than to do nothing at all or think someone else will do it. Community members need to understand and know the warning signs of suicide and be brave enough to ask the question, ‘Are you thinking of suicide?’ Those that are thinking of suicide may just want to be heard and their pain to be understood.  Taking the time to ask more questions and being open to hearing a person’s story can be what someone needs to take that step to receive help or other supports.  Take all warning signs seriously and please reach out hand; you may save a life.”

Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello and Director of Community Mental Hygiene Services Patricia Brinkman also want to stress that suicide prevention and awareness is an important topic for community conversations and that there is help in the community.

“It is so important that we talk about these concerns and don’t brush them aside and hope they go away” said Brinkman. “We need to create a community culture in which we feel comfortable in talking about mental health openly and honestly in order to receive the support and resources necessary to work towards wellness. There is still stigma surrounding the topic of mental health, and we hope to break this stigma by continuing out awareness and prevention efforts.”

“We all must recognize the many life struggles individuals may face, and it is important that everyone in our communities is aware of the warning signs of suicide and the resources available,” said Borrello. “By lending a hand or a listening ear, reminding someone they are not alone, providing information about available support services, and reaching out with kindness to someone who you believe is at risk of suicide are ways we can help these individuals receive the assistance they need to find a better, healthier solution to the personal issues that may be troubling them.”

Knowing the warning signs of suicide could be potentially lifesaving for an individual in crisis. They are as follows:

• Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself
• Looking for ways to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious or agitated, or behaving recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Displaying extreme mood swings

These signs may mean someone is at risk for suicide. Risk is greater if a behavior is new or has recently increased in frequency or intensity, and if it seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. If someone you know is experiencing any of these warning signs, seek help. Resources are available. However, if in a serious emergency, dial 911 immediately.

“There are also supports in the community for those who have experienced personal loss due to suicide,” said Annie Rosenthal, PR Coordinator at Chautauqua Tapestry.  “The Survivors of Suicide Loss Bereavement Support Group offers community members a safe space to share with others their experiences and who are feeling similar emotions of loss.”

The Survivors of Suicide Loss Bereavement Support Group resumes on October 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care in Lakewood.

The group is facilitated by Carri Raynor, who is a suicide loss survivor and has been trained by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Bereavement Group Facilitation. This support group is collaboration among Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, and The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention. For more information about the group, email Carri Raynor at carriraynor@gmail.com.

Local Community Mental Health Resources:

• Chautauqua County Crisis Hotline: 1-800-724-0461, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. Mobile Crisis Team, 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and  24 hours on weekends and holidays, accessed through the Chautauqua County Crisis Hotline
• Chautauqua County Mental Health Clinics, Jamestown: (716) 661-8330, Dunkirk: (716) 363-3550
• UPMC Chautauqua Outpatient Mental Health Program, Dunkirk: (716) 664-8641
• The Resource Center Mental Health, Jamestown: (716) 661-1590, Dunkirk: (716) 366-7660
• Hospice Chautauqua County Bereavement Services (all ring into the administrative offices), Jamestown/Lakewood: (716) 338-0033, Dunkirk/Fredonia: (716) 672-6944, Mayville: (716) 753-5383
• Mental Health Association Support and Linkages: (716) 661-9044

National Resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis.