Cumberland House, a six bed residential hospice facility opened it’s doors on August 2, 2010. The facility is equipped with six private rooms, all include a private handicap accessible bathroom, closet, microwave, and mini fridge, as well as a flat screen TV and cable television. Cumberland House is staffed with 24 hour caregivers. If you would like more information or to schedule a tour of the facility please contact Ken Taylor at 931-484-4748.
The bereavement support group, New Beginnings, is held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 11:00 - 12:00 at the First United Methodist Church. The church is located at the corner of Main St. and Braun. Please enter from Webb Ave and proceed to the Parlor. The group is open to anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one. For more information, please phone 484-4748 and ask for Teri, the bereavement counselor.
Hospice of Cumberland County lost a true friend on April 19, 2007. Dan Jacober had been a patient volunteer with our Hospice for over five years. In that time, he had provided support to many of our patients and their families at the time of their greatest need. Dan frequently marveled at the heroism of our patients, while very rarely sharing his own story of survival. During World War II, Dan was one of a very few to survive having the Battleship he was assigned to sunk during battle.
Interestingly, the son of one of the other survivors lives in Fairfield Glade - as did Dan. Dan and the local business man made the connection on a chance meeting and became close friends. Once, the two flew to Charleston SC where a Battleship idential the the one Dan and the man’s father had been on was dry docked.
Until the last month of his life, Dan was a constant presence at Monday Morning Patient Volunteer Meetings. More times than not, our meetings would end with ” Well, does anyone else thing else?” Dan always had “something else” in the form of a joke or a poem.
The jokes and poems were frequently a little off color, but no one was ever truly offended and it was part of the charm of Dan. But other time, his writing was very touching and honest. I often introduce Dan as the Poet Laureate of Hospice.
Let me share two (repeatable in public) poems by Dan:
Overjoyed I am Self-Employed
I now have a good job, I picked the right one.
Whatever I do, it’s about having fun.
When driving, I choose to drive fast or drive slow,
No longer say ”Yes” when I’d rather say “No”
I don’t care about eating food that I should,
If I’m eating it, it better taste good.
I will never be fussy about what I wear.
My clothes are not stylish, so what? I don’t care.
If things that I do make me look like a fool,
I don’t give a damn if they say “ I’m not cool”.
My rusty old Chevy is not fit for showing.
It’s fine if it gets me where I am going.
I stepped out naked to pick up the mail,
The old gal next door screamed, “You should be in jail!”
I told her there was not excuse for her scorn,
“Complain to The Lord, that the way I was born!”
Some people will say I’m too cranky and bold, well,
Let’s check THEM out when they’re eighty years old.
About Hospice
People who work with
the terminally ill,
who see illness at
it’s ugliest, and
suffering at it’s most painful
often try to insulate hearts
by laughing louder
and more often, and
tell sillier stories,
and often don’t sleep well,
and don’t get used to
seeing others hurting.
They open their hearts
and share the pain,
and help the families
face the unanswerable
question – Why?
They do not find peace
By building a wall
Between the patient
And themselves.
They find peace
by tearing down any wall
that may be there
and getting close,
and being there…
and listening.
One of the great strengths of our Hospice is our Volunteers. Dan was a great example of this. Dan Jacober will truly be missed.