Tidewell Embraces Creativity, Service

Tidewell Hospice offers hospice and end-of-life care in Bradenton and Sarasota, among other locations in the region.

How to help: Tidewell Hospice volunteers offer various types of support, including patient care, writing about legacies, running errands, food shopping and more, said Irene Henderson, administrative director of volunteer services.

"They provide respite for family members so that they can get away and have some time for themselves to recharge or attend special events," said David Glaser, director of Tidewell's communications. Volunteers sit vigil with patients who are actively dying. In short, we couldn’t do what we do without the support of our many dedicated volunteers."

There’s also a complementary services department where volunteers do expressive art projects, she said, which includes making CDs, DVDs, painting, or dictating stories so volunteers can write books or poetry for them.

“At Christmas time, we’ll make Christmas cards to give to their children or help make gifts,” Henderson said.

The program has pet therapy, humor (clowning), music, massage, reiki, horticulture therapy, aroma therapy and expressive arts, Glaser said.

"We have volunteers who help in our offices and provide administrative assistance. Volunteers serve as greeters in all seven of our hospice houses. We have many volunteers who visit patients in their homes, in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospice houses," he said.

All that requires supplies, which is where the need kicks in.

All those supplies — pens, colored pens, pencils, paper — we rely on donations of actual material or money for materials for the patients,” Henderson said. “Anything you can think of, our staff and volunteers can help make projects for our patients.”

These projects help distract patients from the problems they face, she said.

“They can say, ‘I forgot about my pain and nausea that I had for the last hour,’” Henderson said.

Oils and lotions are needed for caring touch and massage, she added.

Tidewell also has Tidewell Honors where the organization hosts pinning ceremonies to recognize veterans who are patients, she said.

For cash/check donations, put “Please donate to Complimentary Services” in the memo line to fund these programs, Henderson said.

Or send donations with attention to Irene Henderson to fund the volunteer programs and supplies. Envelopes are available at each site to submit donations, too.

The Hospice House has a Treasures Thrift Shop in Brandeton’s Pebbles Springs Plaza at 5917 Manatee Ave. W. The store funds Tidewell and patient programs as these extra programs do not receive Medicare or third-party payer funding, she said.

“We’re always looking for donations from dishes to clothes to furniture to books, CDs and jewelry,” she said.