Hot Dogs with a Side of Hospice

CATEGORY: News and Community; Volunteers

​Happy Dog is more than a popular neighborhood restaurant and bar in Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District. It’s also known for hosting monthly talks on topics of wide-ranging community interest.

This week, Happy Dog patrons learned more about the deeper work of hospice at a community forum called, “Healing Arts at the Happy Dog.”
Lisa Scotese Gallagher, Director of Staff Experience at Hospice of the Western Reserve, and Dianne Waddington, Social Work Manager at Helderberg Hospice in Somerset West, South Africa, shared stories about how the organizations foster joy and peace at the end of life. From patient-created artwork to gardening to music, attendees learned how hospice helps patients live life to the fullest. An exhibit of patient-created artwork was displayed on the Happy Dog stage.  
  

Dianne is visiting Cleveland as part of a reciprocal “sister hospice” relationship. The two organizations may be worlds apart, but through a shared mission, they are making a meaningful difference for thousands of families. The two organizations share ideas, resources and best practices during overseas visits and engage in community outreach. The 17-year relationship was recognized earlier this year with the Global Partnership Award from Global Partners in Care, an organization devoted to raising international awareness of the need to improve access to care, especially in low resource settings.