You may ask, "What is 'Palliative Care' and how can Helping Hearts and Hands help?"

​

"Palliative Care" provides those with serious illness or disease with care that improves their quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and managing suffering. Palliative care not only addresses physical needs but the whole person; physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually . . . and their families as well.

​

Helping Hearts and Hands is a compassionate and attentive network of trusted palliative care resources and hardworking "Roll-Up-Your-Sleeves-and-Get-Right-In-There" volunteers serving Skagit, Island, Snohomish, San Juan, and Whatcom Counties.

We are here to aid you in managing your challenging situation as we believe every person deserves symptom and pain relief from chronic illness regardless of their station in life.

Our established and credible partners provide Services, Products, Professional Care, Facilities, Education and more, and part of what we do is help match your need with the best possible solution.

 (Check out our Partners websites by clicking their links under "SERVICES & RESOURCES")

​

If you arrived here because you need HELP . . . do not know where to go  . . . what to do . . . or even what to ask; then we can help!

​

Here is how we can help you:

• Assessments

  • At your invitation we will visit your situation and do a comprehensive assessment with recommended solutions​. Your assessment is performed by devoted healthcare professionals with decades of experience in eldercare, chronic long-term illnesses,  and dementia.

• ​Education

  • Being informed is one of our most powerful tools in dealing with the trials of palliative care​. We frequently orchestrate and sponsor learning conferences and seminars. Our ongoing monthly "Lunch N Learn" mini conferences are relaxed Get-To-Gathers held at local restaurants. These provide the opportunity to expand your knowledge base while enjoying a respite from the intensity of your situation. The camaraderie with like fellows is very therapeutic in restoring strength and resolve. Check out our "EVENTS & PARTICIPATION" page to find out more information .

• Fun(d)raising

  • ​Helping Hearts and Hands is an ALL-VOLUNTEER, not-for-profit organization. ​Our fundraising events allow us the provisions to implement everything we do. It grants us the ability to give of ourselves wholeheartedly to our recipients without reserve, be it education, care giving, much needed respite and fellowship, or a chance to bring good times of  happiness and enjoyment to patients and their families.

• ​"Relief Adventures" & "Stress Intermissions"

  • Laughter is good medicine!​ Nothing restores life like happiness lived away from daily trials and the stress it places on patients and caregivers. "Relief Adventures" like scooping up a group of friends and heading for a picnic in a park, or ice cream enjoyed at a roadside stand, are small examples. These simple pleasures once enjoyed are now ruled out by the encumbrances of a palliative situation. But now by the combined efforts of Helping Hearts and Hands volunteers and our network Partners' abilities and services the "good times" are possible again. In the same theme, "Stress Intermissions" are made possible for caregivers by joining with assets of Helping Hearts and Hands to spell them for a time.

• Network "matching" with our Partners

  • Because we strive to develop close and trusted relationship​s with everyone within our sphere of influence we are able to match "need" with good and appropriate resolutions! This trust is established with time and experiences, and that is the propellant of our growing network.

• Advocates & Ambassadors

  • It can be very daunting​ to enter into an unfamiliar area without knowledge or experience and yet something like an immediate health issue demands your action. We are here to help you navigate those deep waters. As Advocates, we glean from our learning and experiences the wisdom needed to help you understand and wisely make decisions regarding you and your loved ones. We'll help you traverse the 'communication gaps' that seem insurmountable and support you in your decisions.

​

​

​

​

​

​