Buying gifts for people we love generally fills us with joy, but it’s not without challenges. How do you buy something meaningful, unique, and useful, but also stay within a reasonable budget? And if you’re the kind of person who buys for everyone in the family–children, grandchildren, in-laws, neighbors, pets, etc.–the challenge deepens. You may realize that the gift-giving that used to bring you such fulfillment actually feels like a chore. Don’t throw in the towel yet! There are plenty of ways to get gifts that will be loved and cherished without cashing in your retirement fund. Talk to your family and discuss how you want to approach the gift-giving season, possibly using one of the following themes. Homemade Gifts Decide as a family that you will all exchange gifts you make yourself. When you give a homemade gift, what you are really giving is a gift of your time. Making something homemade takes longer than putting something in an online shopping basket. And before you say that you’re not an artist, keep in mind that giving something homemade does not have to be something tangible–although artwork is a special gift as well. For a teenager, a homemade gift can […]

As a professional, Heather Lane is a licensed counselor that works with families in both private practice and non-profit settings. But as a Providence Hospice volunteer, Heather offers the bereavement support that is needed by families who have lost someone they love. And the help she provides is centered on what each person needs, when they need it. She’s been volunteering at Providence Hospice once a week for over a year. “The spiritual realm must have had something to do with it,” Heather says. “I was randomly looking through emails and saw a volunteer opportunity for bereavement support. I filled out a form, got a call from Annette [McClain, Providence Hospice Volunteer Coordinator], and that was it.” Heather loves the work. “It’s a wonderful way to serve people,” she says. “It’s an opportunity for me to give back to the community by donating what I’ve learned.” “It’s really about normalizing the grief experience by offering love, compassion, and kindness,” Heather says of bereavement counseling. That donation is her ear to listen to expressions of grief, her words that validate the feelings of loss, and sometimes even her physical presence to comfort the heartbroken families. She says that instead of the […]

Great Place to Work Institute has honored Providence Life Services with certification as a Great Place to Work. The certification process considered more than 1,000 employee surveys from across Providence communities and services. Great Place to Work, an independent research and consulting firm, evaluated more than 60 elements of team members’ experience on the job. These included employee pride in the organization’s community impact, belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Rankings are based on employees’ experiences, no matter who they are or what they do. Providence Life Services has made a it a priority to provide an employment culture all its own, and leadership is proud that the organization has been recognized for being a great place to work. Recently, in addition to a competitive benefits package, Providence instituted a 3 percent increase for starting wages for several direct care position, an effort to attract the very best employees in a competitive market. These dedicated staff have served on the front line of care, and truly help exemplify the Providence Life Services mission to enhance the lives of those we serve in the name of Jesus Christ. “We applaud Providence Life Services for seeking certification and releasing its employees’ feedback,” […]