Wesley Event Raises Awareness, Support For Hospice Services

Johnston, IA - November is National Hospice Awareness Month, recognizing the professionals and volunteers who provide hospice care. Recently, Wesley Retirement Services held an event to celebrate hospice, a type of compassionate care designed to provide hope, dignity and love for patients faced with life-limiting illness.

The inaugural Wesley Community Hospice Balloon Release was held Sunday, Oct. 26, at Raccoon River Park. Staff, volunteers, family members and others from the community gathered at the park’s lodge for music by “Freedom,” a Christian pop band featuring Wesley Chaplain Rayl Robbins, along with refreshments, prayer and time to remember and celebrate loved ones. Participants tied hand-written messages of remembrance and love to 150 eco-friendly balloons and released them as a group.

“We shouted together, ‘One, two three, to the heavens!’ and up they sailed,” said Hospice Executive Director Cyndi Rohret. “It was not only beautiful to see, but having a great turnout for this first event really made a powerful statement that what we are doing means a lot to the families we serve.”

This event was intended to mark the first anniversary of Wesley Community Hospice and raise funds to support the mission of the organization.  In its successful first year of operation, Wesley Community Hospice served 78 patients and expanded its staff from 4 to 9. Rohert is currently hiring more professionals to keep pace with demand for its services.

The strong response Wesley has experienced locally for hospice care mirrors national trends. Last year, more than 1.4 million Americans with life-limiting illnesses were served by hospices.

“The demand just keeps growing,” Rohret said. “And there are plenty more people who should get the services who don’t. We are excited to make this an annual event not only to help support our mission, but to commemorate and honor the lives of loved ones who have passed away.”

To learn more about Wesley Community Hospice, visit www.wesleyservices.org. Anyone interested serving as a hospice volunteer, inquiring about hospice jobs or requesting any additional information can send an e-mail to crohret@wesleyservices.org.




About Wesley Retirement Services
Wesley Retirement Services, Inc. (WRS), is a nonprofit organization with an emphasis on providing services to seniors in a Christian, caring way, while promoting optimum independence and an active lifestyle. WRS owns and operates five continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) throughout Iowa (Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Wesley Halcyon House in Washington, Wesley Heritage House in Atlantic, Wesley Park Centre in Newton, Wesley The Village in Indianola, and Wesley’s newest community, Edgewater in West Des Moines).  In addition, WRS serves older Iowans at home and throughout the community with Wesley Community Services (Adult day care in Des Moines and Newton, hospice, home care and health services through in Des Moines, Ames and Indianola and Wesley Meals On Wheels in Des Moines). For more information about WRS please visit the website at www.wesleyservices.org.