EvenMORE For You

New Life Journals will Delight Families

Preparing to Relaunch

The long-awaited arrival of a new better way to produce Life Journals debuts this summer and with it comes a drive to rebuild a volunteer force dedicated to Crossroads’ gift of gratitude.

A Crossroads Life Journal is what has traditionally been referred to as a gift of gratitude. The Journal itself is a special scrapbook of memories, personal history and photos intended for the loved ones of a patient receiving end-of-life care. Life Journals have given so many patients’ families great joy.

But the program has been dormant or hanging by a thread in recent years. Production of a Life Journal, which had become cumbersome and costly, will now be easy for families, volunteers and Crossroads team members thanks to a new partner with a digital, easy-to-use platform.

Crossroads SSDs and Volunteer Managers were in training with the new easy-to-use platform this week. Families interested in Life Journals will now enjoy a shared online account with unlimited users. Unlimited copies of digital Life Journals will be available with printed versions available for purchase.

Recruiting volunteers to work on Life Journals, especially reigniting past partnership with local universities who incorporated Life Journals into their academic course work, is a focus of the re-introduction of Life Journals, according to Crossroads Vice President of Patient Support Services Sherri Bickley, CSW, M.Th.

Life Journals are an original Crossroads program dating back to its early years in hospice. The Life Journal has always been and will continue to be an enduring differentiator for Crossroads amongst end-of-life care providers.

Major Glitches are Resolved

Except for at least one small problem, our most recent payroll, which was run on Thursday, June 5 with our new partner Paycom, went smoothly. We thank you for your patience as we onboard our new multifaceted payroll partner.

When we introduced Paycom earlier this year we wrote, “With Paycom you have 24/7 access to your HR information in Employee Self-Service®,” where you can:

• Clock in and out
• Request time off
• Review and approve your paycheck
• See your take-home pay before payday
• Change contact information
• Review your deductions
• Change your tax withholdings

There were some serious “hiccups” with the introduction of Paycom, according to Crossroads CEO and Founder Perry Farmer. The largest inconveniences to employees have been in three areas:

• 401K Plan Deductions
• Paid Leave Time (PLT)
• Timesheet Submission (including employee and supervisor approvals)

While issues associated with these three areas have mostly been eliminated, it’s likely new issues will surface. Again, your patience is appreciated as kinks are identified and solved. Your feedback leads to ongoing problem solving and additional training. 

Looking ahead Crossroads employees can expect some additional “hiccups” but also a “smoother, more personalized” payroll experience.

Spotlight on CNA Vera Hanson: A Journey of Care, Commitment and Compassion

“With Her Whole Heart”

Today we are in the middle of National Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Week, June 12-18, an annual observance that salutes the important contributions nursing assistants provide to patients. What a great time to spotlight one of our own outstanding Crossroads’ CNAs. 

Since 2011, CNA Vera Hanson has been a cornerstone of Crossroads in Philadelphia, a picture of devotion going above and beyond for Crossroads patients.

Vera’s path to hospice began in a nursing home setting, where she first acquired the drive to comfort people in pain. She was very good at her job but something was missing.

As a mother of four, Vera was looking for a role that would align with both her caregiving passion and her family responsibilities. She prayed for a job that would allow her to make a difference while being there for her children. A friend pointed her toward hospice and Vera found her calling at Crossroads.

It was a perfect match. Crossroads’ approach to end-of-life care mirrored Vera’s own belief in always being there for her patients, especially at the very end. 

Caring for four to five patients daily, Vera thrives in an environment where compassion is not only encouraged, it’s essential. Vera says, “To work here, you have to come in with your whole heart.”

Vera’s caregiving philosophy calls for patience, communication and empathy. A true professional, she respects boundaries in very intimate settings and always takes the time to communicate when running even a few minutes late because she knows her patients are expecting and relying on her. Even in routine tasks, Vera is intentional about creating moments of connection.

To new caregivers, her advice is simple but powerful, be patient, communicate often and lead with compassion. Vera deeply values the trust families place in her, especially during a very vulnerable time.

Monica Sullivan, Executive Director of Crossroads in Philadelphia said, “Vera is not only a skilled and dependable caregiver but also mentors new staff, shares her knowledge and leads by example. Her presence strengthens our team and her “legacy” is felt in all the patients she touches.”

Vera brings presence, purpose and heart to her caregiving. While it’s National CNA Week this week, Vera deserves to be honored every week. She is a powerful reminder of what it means to selflessly serve others with love and care.