a community-based non-profit agency
Pathways Hospice Volunteer Recognized
and dedication. Jack is a Pathways
Hospice patient who recently made
the hard choice to move into a skilled
nursing facility due to an increase in
care needs. Cathy started out visiting
Jack at home, giving family a chance
to run errands. When Jack moved into
the nursing facility, Cathy continued
to visit him there. Their visits broke
up his long days and Jack’s wife
appreciated the extra attention he
got from Cathy’s visits.
Volunteer Cathy Sloan (right)
with Sarah Van Etten,
Volunteer Services Director
Each year Thompson School District,
McKee Medical Center and the City
of Loveland jointly host a special
event to honor volunteers who make
a difference. This year Cathy Sloan
is recognized by Loveland Honors as
one of our community’s outstanding
volunteers.
Providing companionship and
comfort for people in their last
weeks and months of life would
be difficult for many, but it suits
Cathy Sloan perfectly. One recent
situation exemplifies her creativity
Over time it became clear that one of
the things Jack missed most was the
Texas Hold’em games that brought
him so much pleasure in the past.
Cathy helped to find a time when
they could bring Jack home for the
big game, and found other players
because as Jack said, “you can’t play
poker without at least 5 people.”
Now, each Wednesday the group meets
for popcorn and poker. Jack’s wife
commented, “It is so nice to have
laughter in the house again!” And it
is so nice for Jack to experience, if
just for the afternoon, the thrill of the
competition that he had so enjoyed
during his earlier life.
Cathy has dedicated over 17 years
to her volunteer service at Pathways
Hospice and is one of our agency’s
longest serving volunteers. She is a
shining star in a constellation of over
200 Pathways Hospice volunteers. As
a horsewoman, she’s helped with Kids,
Horses and Healing, a day-long retreat
for grieving children. She is always
willing help with administrative duties
and fundraising events. Sarah Van
Etten, Volunteer Services Director
for Pathways Hospice, comments
that “Cathy is able to walk into any
situation with an open-heart and a
non-judgmental spirit. Her flexibility
and consistency is so important to
families and she is able to bring a
sense of humor just when it is needed
most.”
Please join us in honoring Cathy
Sloan’s contributions to the many
individuals in our community she has
cared for throughout the years. She
truly exemplifies the giving spirit that
makes our community second to none.
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