 Brian Edgren President EHL Insurance |
 |
||||
Welcome to edition #7 of our client newsletter. Thank you for your overwhelmingly positive feedback from the first six issues. It is our privilege to share stories of very good work being done by our clients and others who are giving back to the community. Thank you also for your friendship, business, and especially your referrals! We are very pleased to announce two exciting changes to our referral reward program. Please see page four for details.
|
|||||
 Amy Getter, RN, MS |
 By Jeff Ogard
|
||||
| Over the past dozen years, I have known many people whom have died; and many more that have lost a close friend or relative. One common bright spot in many of these situations was the interaction with a hospice nurse. Rave reviews are consistently offered not only for the care, but for HOW it was given. Amy Getter has been engaged in many individual stories as the care giver. She has also taught and coached many other nurses that have learned the “what” and “how” of hospice care from Amy. Most of us live in denial of the fact that everyone will one day die. We were pre-wired with instincts for self-preservation, so we devote significant energy to the prolongation of our physical lives. In Amy’s experience, even health care providers often see the death of a patient as a failure, when in actuality the person’s body simply wore out. No advances in science or medicine could prolong vibrant life. Amy Getter is a wonderful resource. She has been profoundly touched personally and professionally from being involved in many stories. She describes the process of dying as a journey; and death itself as a type of metamorphosis. “If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies”. She sees many commonalities between the birthing and dying processes, and has written a book entitled, “The Lamaze of Dying; Practicing for the End of Life”. Hospice care is complex. The patient has many physical needs. There comes a time when they require assistance in personal hygiene and in managing their symptoms. Pain medications need to be regulated. Patients often need help with nausea, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and even breathing. There are many emotional issues. What was the purpose of my life? How do I handle the guilt for the people I have failed? What is the experience of dying going to be like? Friends and relatives who come to visit or help provide care also have needs. The sights, sounds and smells surrounding one in their final days bring reactions as numerous as the people involved. Still, the patient is the primary focus. Guests can often say things that a seemingly unresponsive patient can still hear and understand. A discerning hospice care provider intercepts these conversations and directs them in a manner that protects the patient while still being empathetic to the visitor. A competent hospice nurse skillfully completes the “what” of their job. However, it requires one willing to risk personal hurt by loving well; that accomplishes these tasks in a way that blesses others. In Amy’s work, she has wept over some patients and rejoiced with others. She has been assaulted (attempted strangulation and blow to the head) by a patient whose medications were not properly regulated. Amy’s book is an important first step in learning to deal with our own eventual demise; and in many more cases, it will be useful for preparing us for important conversations with those we love whom have just been shocked by a surprising diagnosis. Even after receiving a terminal diagnosis, some people are hesitant to address the situation. You can help bring clarity to these situations by asking questions. “How do you want it to go?” “What would you like this time to look like?” “How can we live this remaining time to the fullest?” Amy tells a story of a young mother who spent her remaining days writing letters and wrapping presents for her children to open as they attained various milestones in their lives. What a beautiful way for one’s impact to continue to be positively felt; and what a wonderful gift to grieving children to help them transition to a new reality. Amy suggests that people get as much information as possible. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (nhpco.org) has many useful resources. Those of us whose lives have been favorably impacted by hospice care know what phenomenal people these providers are. If you want to learn more about Amy’s practice and the stories that have impacted her, you can order a copy of “The Lamaze of Dying, Practicing for the End of Life”, at amygetter.com.
|
|||||
 Connie Welch Personal Risk Advisor |
 |
||||
Connie Welch, of our Sequim office, is a Personal Risk Advisor for EHL Insurance and has been with our company since 2002. Connie is a graduate of Stanwood High School and has attended numerous financial banking classes. She is currently licensed in Property, Casualty, Life and Disability in the state of Washington. Connie holds her CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative) designation and is a licensed notary public for the state of Washington. Connie lives in Sequim. She has four children and nine grandchildren who are all the apples of her eyes. In her free time she enjoys fixing up her house as money allows, reading a good book, knitting, sewing, and watching a good movie. |
|||||
 Habitat for Humanity |
 |
||||
Nearly 2 billion people around the world live in slum housing and over 100 million are homeless. HFH helps eliminate poverty by providing simple, decent, affordable shelter to those in need. Families left homeless by natural disasters, war and civil unrest often face dire housing situations as they struggle to rebuild their lives. Whenever possible, they build sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy housing. Total construction costs in our area typically range from $65,000 - $68,000 per house. Though an international organization, the primary focus for each affiliate is their local community. The span of operation is typically one county. For example, in the state of Washington, there are 39 counties, and 33 HFH affiliates. Recent tough economic times simultaneously increase the number of people needing help while adversely impacting most non-profit agency’s ability to respond. For example, in 2010, the board of Kitsap Habitat originally intended to build 14 new houses. The actual number will likely be six or seven, yet there are 380 qualified families/individuals on the waiting list. The Cornerstone Project on Sylvan Way in Bremerton has 11 building lots. Three houses are completed and occupied; three more are about 50% complete; and the remaining five have identified families that have been waiting 18+ months for funding so they can begin construction. In addition to supporting the annual auction in September, there are a number of ways to support HFH: First of all, cash donations are always welcome. So are volunteers. You can contribute your time at: job sites, working at the drop site on Hwy 305 in Poulsbo; engaging as a family counselor, lending administrative help, and providing meals for workers building the homes. When you contribute to HFH locally, the impact is felt around the world. For every ten houses built in Kitsap County, the local affiliate donates sufficient funds to build one house in Amman Jordan. For more information, contact executive director Lori Oberlander at kitsaphabitat.org. 360.479.3853 |
|||||
 |
|||||
| Last month it was our privilege to announce the launch of a new initiative at EHL Insurance, the “Special Needs Protection Program”. Our program coordinator, Laura Ahlstrom, published the following article in our agency’s blog. Realizing that not everyone sees the blog, we found this entry worthy of publication to a wider audience. If you or a friend have a special needs family member, and you or they want a review of your risk management and insurance plan, please contact Laura at 800.929.1669. My Super Hero My Super Hero fights battles that no one else can; He suffers in silence, not knowing how to ask for a hand. My Super Hero soars to great heights without leaving the ground; Pay attention, he’ll take you with him, if you are around. My Super Hero rescues those around him with just his smile Those who know him love him instantly and always stay awhile. My Super Hero has a hard time writing; But the stories he creates about squishies are brilliant. My Super Hero has the warmest heart. When I told him that Santa cannot get him a $400.00 Lego set because then he’d have to get one for every kid, he picked a $3.00 toy to ask for. My Super Hero files information in his brain differently than I do; But once it is filed correctly, he never forgets! My Super Hero sees things differently than I do; And each day I am blessed with his perspective. My Super Hero may not accomplish as much as other children; But each thing he accomplishes brings such joy to all those around. My Super Hero receives a lot of help from those around him; And they are all blessed by having the chance to love him; And we are all so grateful for their love! My Super Hero brings joy to all those around. His love is pure; His mind is innocent; His heart is genuine; My Super Hero has Autism. As many are aware, Autism now affects 1 in 110 children. It is an extremely fast growing area of disability in our country and others and is something to pay close attention to.... Not just because of the number of those affected, but because those who have it can teach us so much. He teaches me - every time I'm wise enough to pay attention and find the message. I think a large portion of our life should be spent - paying attention.... This is the first of many future writings that will come of a unique program that we are putting together at EHL Insurance. In the future, I will share information with you on more Insurance related aspects of the Special Needs community - but for now, I simply wanted to share one of the gifts that I was given in this world. It is after all the reason I have such passion for assisting other families. Without him - I'm afraid that my job would be just that - a job.... But since I'm lucky enough to be able to assist other families just like mine - with areas of disabilities all over the map - what I'm able to achieve is a sense of content passion in my career. In this day and age, that is something that can be quite rare. Laura Ahlstrom |
|||||
 |
 |
||||
(A referral is when we get a call for a quote from someone saying you referred them to us.) You will also be entered into our monthly drawings for prizes. We draw for a $100 gift-card from everyone who referred someone to us. Refer two people and receive $20 plus two entries into the drawing. The second change is that we will hold another drawing at the end of the year for a $500 gift card. Each of your referrals will generate a separate entry into this grand prize drawing. We are pleased to announce this month’s winners. John MacDonald’s name was drawn from all clients and other friends who referred someone to us. And, Habitat for Humanity is also receiving a $50 contribution from EHL on behalf of our clients for the great work they are doing in our communities. |
|||||
