The Cocoon Care Giver Program

Mountain Valley Hospice was established in 1988 to provide comfort care to individuals with a limited life expectancy.  A family member or “primary care person” was originally required to assume responsibility for providing care to the patient, if needed.  Hospice recognized the need to expand its services to those individuals who had no available or capable caregiver.

In 1994, through the generosity of a start-up grant by the Johnstown Hospital Foundation, Hospice developed the Cocoon Caregiver Program, which provides hospice patients with the method and the means to employ caregivers to assist as needed in the home.

The Cocoon Caregiver Program serves a two-fold purpose:

1 – Providing patients with a list of “Cocoon Caregivers” that they may employ.  These caregivers are familiar with the goals and philosophy of Hospice.

2 – A reimbursement grant is available for a portion of the cost of the Cocoon Caregiver services, if there is a financial need.  Also, if financial hardship exists and is documented, other arrangements are possible.

 
When somebody dies, a cloud turns into an angel and flies up to tell God to put another flower
on a pillow.

A bird gives the message
back to the world, and
sings a silent prayer
that makes the rain cry.

People disappear, but they
never really go away.

The spirits up there put
the sun to bed, wake up the
grass, and spin the earth
in dizzy circles.

Sometimes you can see
them dancing in a cloud
during the day-time,
when they're supposed
to be sleeping.

They paint the rainbows
and also the sunsets and
make waves splash and
tug at the tide.

They toss shooting stars
and listen to wishes.

And when they sing
wind-songs, they whisper
to us, don't miss
me too much.

The view is nice and I'm
doing just fine.

- Ashley