News

Prairie du Chien, WI - As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to mark the headlines of our communities; the Crossing Rivers Health Hospice team is utilizing this time to expand on creative ways to continue to support families from a distance. One such way Crossing Rivers Health Hospice continues to support patients and families is by offering framework and suggestions for legacy projects. The Hospice team has been offering assistance with ink handprints, a keepsake treasured by families for quite some time. Keeping COVID-19 precautions in mind, the Hospice team has an alternative method to continue this valuable keepsake by creating do-it-yourself at-home kits, complete with personalized materials, ink, and instructions.

“The kits allow our families to continue to have the opportunity to memorialize their loved one, while keeping everyone safe during this difficult time,” explained Haley Kregel, Crossing Rivers Health Hospice Social Worker.

“Legacy projects are a wonderful way to preserve the memories we have with our loved ones and are highly encouraged,” added Brittney Miller, Crossing Rivers Health Hospice Social Worker. “Additional projects can include voice recordings or video interviewing; preserving old recipes, notes and/or keepsakes; utilizing the loved one’s favorite clothing to create pillows, quilts, or stuffed animals; and taking photos and creating memory books. Our Hospice team is continually making additional suggestions and ideas that are meaningful to families.”

“It is never too early to talk about how you want to be remembered. Loved ones often don’t realize how much these things mean days, months, or even years down the road,” shared Laura Lane, Crossing Rivers Health Hospice Manager. “The Crossing Rivers Health Hospice team has configured this list of legacy suggestions based on their own experiences and treasured keepsakes. Our hope is to encourage families to take this time, as we have it, to create something beautiful and ever-lasting. In a dark time, it is often beneficial to focus on the good times and memories we wish to keep.”

Crossing Rivers Health Hospice is a philosophy of care is to enhance the quality of life for patients and their families faced with a terminal illness. Hospice is provided in a variety of settings including private homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and for short-term purposes, at area hospitals. Specially trained registered nurses are available 24/7.

The Crossing Rivers Health Hospice team works closely with patients and families to identify their personal goals and are dedicated to helping achieve them. The Hospice team consists of an attending physician, registered nurses, the hospice medical director, social workers, a spiritual caregiver, certified nursing assistants, and volunteers. Bereavement support continues for families for up to 13 months after the passing of their loved one.

Crossing Rivers Health Hospice serves the southwest Wisconsin communities throughout Crawford County, along with portions of Grant, Vernon, and Richland counties in Wisconsin. The team also serves portions of northeast Iowa, including Clayton and Allamakee counties. Crossing Rivers Health Hospice has been awarded the Hospice Honors award from Deyta Analytics, a division of HEALTHCAREfirst, for three consecutive years. Hospice Honors is a prestigious program that recognizes hospices providing the highest level of quality, as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. To learn more about Crossing Rivers Health Hospice, visit cross-ingrivers.org/hospice or call 608.357.2000.

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Photo: Crossing Rivers Health Hospice Social Workers Brittney Miller and Haley Kregel display examples of legacy projects.