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By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
2-2-2010 The Hospice of the Owens Valley is saying goodbye to several veteran volunteers, and greeting some new faces.
On Sunday, Jan. 31, Hospice workers, friends and family bid farewell to retiring Director Janie Carrington, Family Care Coordinator Marga Foote, Social Worker Flora Nash and Hospice’s Medical Director, Dr. Asao Kamei. Eaech of these volunteers have been with Hospice for more than 20 years.
Carrington was the main attraction, as guests lined up to wish her well. As of the end of December 2009, her last month as director, Carrington had clocked in 11,044 volunteer hours in her 25 years with Hospice. This does not include the years she spent in the paid position of director. And most of these hours were done after Carrington was done with her day job as a nurse.
Foote said Carrington was at the very first training class in May 1984 and has been on board ever since. Foote also credited Carrington for turning the local Hospice into a “reputable organization” from its reputation as a group of “old ladies.”
Carrington also “had a knack for knowing what needed to be done” Foote said, adding “She will still be the driving force behind us all.”
“Hospice is the love of my life,” Carrington said, “And I don’t want to leave, but I’ll be around.”
Then after the shower of accolades and praise, Carrington humbly said, “I hope what I’ve done has done some good for the community.”  A full house attended the farewell party of many Hospice of the Owens Valley volunteers and its director. From right, retiring Social Worker Flora Nash, retiring Director Janie Carrington, the new Director Tami McDermith, the new patient Care Coordinator Dara Powell, the retiring coordinator Marga Foote and the retiring Medical Director Dr. Asao Kamei. Photo by Mike Bodine
Fulltime nurse at Dr. Green’s office, Tami McDermith will be taking over as director. She said that even though she’s brand new to Hospice, she lost both of her parents three years ago and knows the benefits of Hospice and what it has to offer.
Registered Nurse Dara Powell, who will be taking over as Patient
Care Coordinator, said that Hospice is “work of the heart.” Powell, who is a chemotherapy medicine specialist at Northern Inyo Hospital said that job has taken her to Hospice.
Powell said she and McDermith have “some big shoes to fill.”
In addition to these other positions, there are six active nurse volunteers, six clerical volunteers who answer phones and help with fundraisers and 15 lay-volunteers who offer, for example, respite for caregivers.
Hospice organizations allows patients to live out their last days with dignity and quality, surrounded by loved ones and focuses on treating the person not the disease and focuses on quality rather than length of life.
Then-NIH Head Nurse Joan Ortman is credited with starting the entire Hospice of the Owens Valley program in 1984.
For more information about Hospice of the Owens Valley, call (760) 873-3742.
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