24 Aug Ask Alice September 2021

Dear Alice,

I just heard that Don Freeman will be retiring from his position as Taking Steps Brattleboro’s Coordinator! Have you found a new Coordinator? Will your important work continue? What will Don be doing?

Thanks, Looking Forward to the Future

Dear Looking Forward,

We, too, are looking forward to the future, as we welcome our new Taking Steps Brattleboro Coordinator, Ruth Nangeroni.

Ruth has worked as a private caregiver for more than fifteen years, specializing in Alzheimer’s, dementia, and end-of-life care, often serving as Care Team Coordinator. She received her End of Life Doula certification through UVM, and has served as an EOL/Life Transition Doula on several occasions. Ruth has been an active Brattleboro Area Hospice (BAH) volunteer since 2014, including sitting vigils; and she was a member of the BAH Board for three years. All of these experiences make her the special person she is, and contribute to the unique perspective she will bring to leading our Advance Care Planning (ACP) work.

Since we knew you and everyone else in the BAH community would be interested, we invited Ruth to say a little about herself and her thoughts about her new role. So in her own words:

“Talking about death and dying brings me to life! I am always honored to help folks navigate life’s final transitions, which I feel includes preparing for them. I am grateful to be able to carry a calm strength and mindful self-awareness of presence and respect which offers support and safety to people as they explore their ideas about living and dying with dignity.

“I am excited to be stepping into the role that Joanna created and Don nurtured. I am thinking about and exploring ways to bring the conversations to younger folks. I look forward to knowing and working with the amazing team of ACP volunteers. I am honored to join the staff of Brattleboro Area Hospice, and grateful and inspired to lead a beautifully committed group of ACP volunteers. Thank you!”

We were bummed by Don Freeman’s decision to step down from the Coordinator position, of course. Fortunately, however, he is not totally leaving us. Don will remain working with Taking Steps Brattleboro (TSB) as an ACP volunteer, and will also continue his role as Treasurer of the BAH Board of Directors.

Asked about his favorite memories from his time as TSB Coordinator, Don called the opportunity to meet community members who are willing to not only engage in heart-felt conversations about end-of-life concerns, but also to plan and provide guidance to loved ones should a medical event occur “an incredible experience.” He emphasized his gratitude for “the opportunity to coordinate a most extraordinary group of volunteers who shared in the importance of this mission and always inspired me to bring my best effort to this work.” Don pointed out that between those we have had individual conversations with and those we have met in public or group presentations, and those in the medical community and other social service organizations who have heard us championing the Advance Care Planning message, TSB has reached over 1,500 people. Don also noted how gratifying it has been to be part of the larger BAH family of services for the community, “to be a part of an amazing staff and volunteers providing early care, hospice, bereavement, and spiritual counseling services along with Experienced Goods and the Hallowell Singers.”

Taking Steps Brattleboro has a brand-new class of trained volunteer ACP facilitators. At the same time, we see more and more primary care providers and other clinicians encouraging their patients to work with us. Thus, the future looks bright for TSB, and we are confident that we will continue to grow and serve ever more community members under Ruth’s leadership. As Don put it, Ruth’s long experience as a BAH volunteer and Board member “combined with her compassionate nature and commitment to ACP made her a great choice for this position.”

Best wishes, Alice

Please contact Ruth Nangeroni, Taking Steps Brattleboro Coordinator, 802-257-0775, ext. 101, or ruth.nangeroni@brattleborohospice.org, for information about Advance Care Planning.

Till next month, folks. Please send your questions to Alice via info@brattleborohospice.org.