KEN HAMILTON CAREGIVER CENTER AT
NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Volunteers, Donors and Caregivers Reunite in "Oasis" Center that is a Refuge for Families Experiencing Stressful Long Term Medical Situations
Volunteer coaches, family caregivers and donors to the Ken Hamilton Caregivers Center celebrated the success and first anniversary of the serene, beautifully decorated facility at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), 400 E. Main Street in Mt. Kisco on Thursday, November 13, 2008 . November is National Family Caregivers Month.
The gathering thanked the donors and acknowledge the success of the program and the thankfulness of its recipients, whose burdens were reduced by the compassion and dedication of the volunteer coaches, whose numbers grew from three when the project was first conceived to 18 currently. All volunteers are members of the community with first hand experience being a family caregiver who spent long hours by the hospital bedside of a loved one. The coaches serve as trained "listeners" and offer emotional support to help the caregivers get through a very stressful experience. They also assist caregivers organize their friends and relatives to help with daily chores and routines so that they can dedicate themselves to their hospitalized family members. The volunteers' efforts supplement those of a professional social worker.
The center was dedicated last year in memory of Ken Hamilton, who died in 2004 from a rare lung cancer at another hospital. His widow, Marian Hamilton of Armonk, chose to open the center at NWH because she admires its Planetree model of patient-focused, family-centered care. She raised $900,000 for construction, furnishings and an endowment through community donations and a matching grant.
The center is located off the main lobby of the hospital, and was designed using focus groups of family caregivers. It is outfitted with a reclining massage chair and a relaxation room including a fireplace. Its Asian-inspired décor features artwork and colors reflecting nature. For practicality, there are also computers and a fax machine.
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