Hospice of the Red River Valley is a not-for-profit hospice that provides intensive comfort care to enhance quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. Our site shares patient, caregiver and volunteer stories—demonstrating how hospice allows people to live well, and tools and resources about end-of-life and grief.
It’s Never too Late to Thank a Veteran, Even at the End of Life
Americans across the country celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11, a special day to salute the men and women who have bravely served our country in the military. These fellow Americans have made profound sacrifices to defend our freedom, and they deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. Honoring our nation’s veterans includes supporting them throughout …
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7 Ways to Help a Parent Who Has Lost a Spouse
by Jennifer Messelt, LMSW, LGSW In my 14 years as grief specialist at Hospice of the Red River Valley, I’ve sat across from many grieving spouses. It’s been a privilege and honor to journey alongside them during their first year of grief. Through these interactions, I have learned about the grief reactions bereaved spouses have …
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Hospice Chaplain Cares for Others in Their Time of Need
Spiritual care can be vital to the well-being of a person. When someone is diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness, he or she may rely even more heavily on religious beliefs, faith or spirituality. Or, they may question their long-held beliefs and wrestle with life’s “big” questions, such as: What’s the meaning of life? …
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A Sparkle that Never Left: Husband Reminisces on a Lifetime of Love & How Hospice Helped Honor Final Wishes
Bill and Gwen Hejl’s relationship was kismet. From the moment they met, their lives were suddenly, forever entwined. Their paths connected when Bill was set up on a blind date at the Wayne County Fair in Goldsboro, N.C. As it turned out, his full attention was on his blind date’s friend, Gwen. It was at …
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The Patchwork of Friendship: Lifelong Friends Share Their End-of-Life Journeys with the Help of Hospice
Interconnected and stitched like the perfectly placed patterns of a handmade quilt, the friendship of Lois Wisted, 100, and Charlotte Hoeglund, 99, has stood the test of time. They met by happenstance, but they intentionally kept in touch throughout the past seven decades, sharing many treasured memories. Their lives have taken them throughout the world, …
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A House for Hope
Hospice is compassionate care for those who are no longer receiving curative treatment for their terminal illness and have a life expectancy of six months or less. It includes expert medical care and pain management with specially trained medical and support staff, including physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), chaplains …
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