Recently Heartland Hospice serving Quad Cities built a ramp for their patient, Linda, to help her safely access her daughter’s house where she is living. Without the ramp, Linda had no safe way to exit her daughter's house if there were to be an issue.

Krystal Bolger, RN Case Manager, reached out to her Heartland team to see who could help with this project for their patient. Jeff Blackwell, Volunteer Coordinator, answered her call and arranged to have the ramp built for Linda. Usually Jeff reaches out to the local high school construction classes or a local religious organization for their help, but due to the novel coronavirus, school was not in session and the religious groups were not going out to do projects. Jeff turned to Shannon, Volunteer with Heartland Hospice, who owns a construction company with her husband to see if they could help build a ramp for their patient.

“Shannon and her husband deserve all the credit for this project. They purchased the permit, sent two carpenters to build the structure and have pledged to remove it if Linda’s daughter wishes once she passes away,” said Jeff.

Now with the ramp built for Linda, she can go outside and enjoy the summer weather along with having a safe exit when needed.

Heartland Hospice Serving Quad Cities recently launched a new pet therapy program. Volunteer Coordinator, Jeff Blackwell, is proud of his pet therapy volunteer team as part of Heartland’s volunteer services. Jeff’s pet therapy volunteers and their dogs have been visiting patients through their windows during this difficult time to help spread cheer and bring smiles to patients’ faces.

“The dogs are all certified nationally as therapy dogs and all their owners have completed the hospice volunteer training required to visit patients,” said Jeff. “This came about largely through the efforts of one of our volunteers who expressed how much some of the patients could benefit from pet visits if we were able to provide them. She reached out to a local contact, Linda Brown, who happened to be a Heartland Hospice volunteer previously. She collaborated with Linda to propose to me a team of volunteers and their dogs becoming part of the Heartland volunteer team.”

“The pet therapy volunteer team visits at patients’ windows whenever it is possible. This is a great option during a time where many facilities are not allowing visitors. The response from patients and staff at the facilities has exceeded our expectations! The pet therapy team brings a needed break throughout the day and the dogs instinctively know how to delight the patients,” Jeff added.

Michele, Account Liaison, visited Centennial Rehab & Healthcare with the pet therapy team for one of their first group visits. “This group of volunteers and their dogs has brought so much joy and great energy to the patients and residents. It brought tears to my eyes to see the looks of surprise and smiles on the patients’ faces as the dogs visited their windows,” said Michele. “This was such a wonderful way to serve our patients and the staff at the facility during such a difficult time.”