Feeling Stretched Caring for an Older Adult? Balance Your Life With, Powerful Tools for Caregivers

(Southwest, Michigan) March 11, 2010 – Are you taking care of an aging parent?  Does your spouse need help from you on a daily basis for activities of daily living?  Are you overseeing needs of food, finances & more care for your mom?  Is a serious illness of a loved one requiring care from you?

“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is an educational series designed to provide you with the tools you need to be the most effective caregiver you can.  Hospice At Home, in partnership with and funded by Area Agency on Aging, is offering this program to help family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six 2 ½ hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced class leaders conduct the series. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming will help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life.

Participants will receive a book, The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class.  A donation of $25.00 to help defray the cost of the book is suggested, though not required, to attend the class.

The next series of classes will be held at River Ridge Retirement Village, 706 Kentucky Avenue, South Haven, from 2:00 – 4:30pm on Tuesdays for six weeks beginning on April 13, 2010. 

Respite care and transportation are available if necessary. For more information or to register, call 1-800-HOSPICE. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay.  It provides quality care to people adjusting to living with a serious illness, as well as to people facing death, anticipating the death of a loved one, or healing their grief after the death of a loved one.  Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services in Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties.

Area Agency on Aging is a private, not-for-profit agency serving Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.  It offers comprehensive and coordinated systems of services to assist older persons, those who care for them, and other vulnerable adults.  Their mission is to help this population maintain independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

For more information contact Hospice at Home at 269-429-7100 or 1-800-HOSPICE or go to http://www.hospiceathomecares.org/.

Hospice at Home Hosts American Red Cross Blood Drive

(Southwest, Michigan) March 1, 2010 - Hospice at Home will host a community blood drive for the American Red Cross on Monday, April 5th from noon to 6:00 pm at the Hospice at Home Community Room, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI.

The United States relies on at least 39,000 pints of red blood cells a day to help treat patients in need. Individuals who are at least 17 years old, meet requirements, and are in good health may be eligible to donate blood. This blood can save a life. Hospice at Home has a goal of collecting 25 units of blood during this blood drive to help the American Red Cross in its efforts.

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization with a rich tradition of community service. It saves lives and changes lives through blood supply, health and safety training, disaster response and preparedness, and services to members of the United States military and their families.

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay. It provides quality care to those adjusting to living with a serious illness, facing death, anticipating the death of a loved one, or healing their grief after the death of a loved one. Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services. Serving Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties, the care is coordinated by a team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement coordinators, and trained volunteers. Extending this care, Lory’s Place, a bereavement and education center that builds hope and strength for every grieving family, is available to anyone in Southwest Michigan or Northern Indiana.

If you are interested in donating blood, or for more information, please call Hospice at Home, (269) 429-7100 or toll free at (800) HOSPICE; or go to http://www.hospiceathomecares.org/.

Hospice at Home Hosts National Healthcare Decisions Day

(Southwest, Michigan) March 5, 2010 - Hospice at Home, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16, 2010 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, Hospice at Home is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives in accordance with Michigan state laws.  These resources are available at http://www.hospiceathomecares.org/ and http://www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org/.

Specifically, on April 15, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, Hospice at Home is welcoming the public at three locations in Southwest Michigan with free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms.
 
In South Haven, in partnership with South Haven Community Hospital South Haven Senior Services, information will be available at the Shoreline Wellness & Rehabilitation Center, 950 South Bailey.

In St. Joseph, information will be available at the Hospice at Home office, 4025 Health Park Lane.

In Buchanan, information will be available at Woodland Terrace, 13 Longmeadow Village Drive.

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Terri Dotson, Community Relations Representative, Hospice at Home.  “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay. It provides quality care to those adjusting to living with a serious illness, facing death, anticipating the death of a loved one, or healing their grief after the death of a loved one. Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services. Serving Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties, the care is coordinated by a team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement coordinators, and trained volunteers. Extending this care, Lory’s Place, a bereavement and education center that builds hope and strength for every grieving family, is available to anyone in Southwest Michigan or Northern Indiana.

For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit http://www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org/ or call Hospice at Home, (269) 429-7100 or toll free at (800) HOSPICE; or go to http://www.hospiceathomecares.org/.

National Teleconference at Hospice at Home

(Southwest, Michigan), March 1, 2010 - Hospice at Home is offering, free to the public, the Hospice Foundation of America annual live via-satellite teleconference. The national teleconference, entitled Cancer and End-of-Life Care  will be broadcast on Wednesday, March 24  from 1:30 to 4:00 pm and can be viewed at Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph.

The teleconference will address care options related to cancer diagnoses as well as loss and grief reactions for patients, families and professional caregivers. The teleconference will also examine psychosocial aspects of cancer, pain management, and ethical issues related to the disease. It will be broadcast live-via-webcast and satellite. Following the teleconference, a panel of local experts will discuss the topic. This program has been approved for three contact hours of continuing education by many professional boards.
          
The teleconference national panel will feature: Yvette Colón, PhD, MSW, Director of Education & Support at American Pain Foundation, Malene Davis, MBA, CHPN, President & CEO at Capital Hospice, Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, Professor of Gerontology at The College of New Rochelle and Senior Consultant to HFA, Richard Payne, MD, Director of the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life, Sherry R Schachter, PhD, FT, Director Bereavement Services at Calvary Hospital/Hospice, and Brad Stuart, MD, Medical Director at Sutter VNA & Hospice.

 “This distinguished panel of experts will examine the complexities of end-stage cancer when transitioning to hospice and palliative care from curative treatment including communication skills, practices and protocols which may involve medical, psychological, social, financial, caregiving, and spiritual,” states Debbie Charleston, Director of Education and Clinical Resources at Hospice at Home. “Medical professionals, psychologists, counselors, educators, social workers, nurses, physicians and other health care workers, funeral directors, and clergy, as well as the general public, may be interested in this informative program.”

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay. It provides quality care to people adjusting to living with a serious illness, to people facing death, to people anticipating the death of a loved one, or to people healing their grief after the death of a loved one. Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those whom need care and those receiving support services. Serving Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties, the care is coordinated by a team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement coordinators, and trained volunteers. Extending this care, Lory’s Place, a bereavement and education center that builds hope and strength for every grieving family, is available to anyone in Southwest Michigan or Northern Indiana.

For more information contact Hospice at Home at 269-429-7100 or 1-800-HOSPICE, or go to http://www.hospiceathomecares.org/.

Are you Caring for a Friend or Relative?

(South Haven, Michigan) February 1, 2010 – Being a caregiver can be both rewarding and stressful. This program will give you the tools to make caregiving more meaningful and efficient, and give you ways to take care of yourself as well.

Hospice at Home, in partnership with and funded by Area Agency on Aging, provides this program to help caregivers learn how to obtain needed community resources, manage caregiver stress, organize important documents, monitor safety and risk, develop an increased sense of personal effectiveness as a caregiver, and decrease the sense of caregiver burden. 

Classes consist of three 2-hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced class leaders conduct the series. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming will help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life. There is no charge to attend, though donations for materials are gratefully accepted.

Classes will be held at South Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, 850 Phillips Street, South Haven, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm on Tuesdays for three weeks beginning on March 9. 

Respite care and transportation are available if necessary. For more information or to register, call 1-800-717-3811. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay.  It provides quality care to people adjusting to living with a serious illness, as well as to people facing death, anticipating the death of a loved one, or healing their grief after the death of a loved one.  Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services in Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties.

Area Agency on Aging is a private, not-for-profit agency serving Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.  It offers comprehensive and coordinated systems of services to assist older persons, those who care for them, and other vulnerable adults.  Their mission is to help this population maintain independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

For more information, contact Hospice at Home at 269-429-7100 or 1-800-HOSPICE, or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Feeling Stretched Caring for an Older Adult? Balance Your Life With “Powerful Tools for Caregivers”

(Southwest, Michigan) January 27, 2010 – Are you taking care of an aging parent?  Does your spouse need help from you on a daily basis for activities of daily living?  Are you overseeing needs of food, finances & more care for your mom?  Is a serious illness of a loved one requiring care from you?

“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is an educational series designed to provide you with the tools you need to be the most effective caregiver you can.  Hospice At Home, in partnership with and funded by Area Agency on Aging, is offering this program to help family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six 2 ½ hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced class leaders conduct the series. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming will help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life.

Participants will receive a book, The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class.  A donation of $25.00 to help defray the cost of the book is suggested, though not required, to attend the class.

The next series of classes will be held at the Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, 420 West High Street, Dowagiac, from 1:30 – 4:00pm on Tuesdays for six weeks beginning on March 2, 2010. 

Respite care and transportation are available if necessary. For more information or to register, call 1-800-717-3811. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay.  It provides quality care to people adjusting to living with a serious illness, as well as to people facing death, anticipating the death of a loved one, or healing their grief after the death of a loved one.  Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services in Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties.

Area Agency on Aging is a private, not-for-profit agency serving Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.  It offers comprehensive and coordinated systems of services to assist older persons, those who care for them, and other vulnerable adults.  Their mission is to help this population maintain independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

For more information contact Hospice at Home at 269-429-7100 or 1-800-HOSPICE or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Hospice at Home Hospice Aide Wins Scholarship Award

On Friday, September 18, local Hospice at Home Hospice Aide, Abby Baxter, won the Sondra Seely Scholarship Fund award during the 17th Annual Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Association Hospice Aide Conference. 

“Abby embraces the mission of hospice and seeks to improve patients’ lives constantly,” states Tricia Johnson, Hospice at Home Clinical Team Manager. “She is always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty and is a true advocate for patients.”

To be selected for this prestigious award, a person must be credentialed as a Hospice Aide, recommended by their supervisor, completed required in-service hours, exemplify quality and compassionate care to patients and families, and be actively caring for hospice patients.

For more information about Hospice at Home, call 269-429-7100 or 1-800-717-3811, or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Hospice at Home Publishes Cookbook

(Southwest, Michigan) January 20, 2010 - Hospice at Home has collected the best recipes from staff, volunteers, and community members and compiled them into an attractive keepsake cookbook. The one-of-a-kind cookbooks are on sale now for $15 and make a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift.

“The cookbook is called Recipes of Love because Life is Precious,” states Bobbie Roloff, creator of the cookbook. “All proceeds benefit Hospice at Home. It is a wonderful way to try new recipes and support our special care at the same time.” The cookbook contains 460 well-loved recipes including appetizers, main dishes, desserts and many others. The recipes are contained in a padded 3-ring binder with a laminated cover to provide extra durability and resistance to stains, spills, and scratches. It also comes with a unique bookstand that securely holds the cookbook open and upright for hands-free cooking.

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay. It provides quality care to those adjusting to living with a serious illness, facing death, anticipating the death of a loved one, or healing their grief after the death of a loved one. Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services. Serving Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties, the care is coordinated by a team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement coordinators, and trained volunteers. Extending this care, Lory’s Place, a bereavement and education center that builds hope and strength for every grieving family, is available to anyone in Southwest Michigan or Northern Indiana.

If you are interested in purchasing a cookbook, or for more information, please call Bobbie Roloff at Hospice at Home, (269) 429-7100 or toll free at (800) 717-3811; or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Hospice at Home Staff Honored for Excellence

On Thursday, November 5, three Hospice at Home staff members were honored for excellence in care of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia diagnoses. Hospice aide Carol Black from the South Haven Team, nurse Liz Mai from the St. Joseph Team, and social worker Connie Burrus from the Buchanan Team were recognized during the Excellence in Caring Program by the Dementia Consortium and the Tri-County Connection. 

“These employees embrace the mission of Hospice at Home and exemplify our caring excellence,” states Linda Beushausen, President and CEO of Hospice at Home. “They are always willing to go above and beyond for patients and their families. They are passionate and dedicated professionals that I am proud to work with.”

Research has demonstrated that hospice care increases the quality of life for patients living with advance dementia. It can also spare patients and their families from futile and expensive medial treatments.

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay. It provides quality care to people adjusting to living with a serious illness, to people facing death, to people anticipating the death of a loved one, or to people healing their grief after the death of a loved one. Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services. Serving Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties, the care is coordinated by a team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement coordinators, and trained volunteers. Extending this care, Lory’s Place, a bereavement and education center that builds hope and strength for every grieving family, is available to anyone in Southwest Michigan or Northern Indiana

For more information about Hospice at Home, call 269-429-7100 or 1-800-717-3811, or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Hospice Employee Awarded the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Designation

CFRE International has named Melinda Graham as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Melinda Graham, Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives at Hospice at Home, joins over 5,400 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation. Individuals granted the CFRE credentials have met a series of standards set by CFRE International which include tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations. They have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights. Initially, candidates must pass a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive.

“The CFRE process was developed as a way to identify for the public and employers those individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and commitment to perform fundraising duties in an effective, conscientious, ethical and professional manner,” states Susan Davies Goepp, CFRE; Chair of CFRE International. “Achievement of the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential demonstrates the level of commitment on the part of Melinda Graham to herself and the profession as a whole.”

“Melinda’s perseverance during the time of intense study and her dedication to the completion of the requirements necessary to successfully achieve the CFRE credential is further evidence of her strong development and leadership skills,” states Linda Beushausen, President and CEO of Hospice at Home. “Melinda is a multi-talented leader and adds tremendous value to our team.  We are very grateful for Melinda’s expertise, knowing this expertise is one of the critical success factors to achieving our strategic initiatives focused on continued expansion of programs and services for all of those we are privileged to serve.”

CFRE International is an independent organization whose sole mission is dedicated to the certification of fundraising executives by setting standards in philanthropy. This single, universal, baseline organization works in cooperation with leading philanthropic associations. More information about CFRE can be found on their website, www.cfre.org.

For more information about Hospice at Home call 269-429-7100 or 1-800-717-3811, or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Hospice Excels at Providing Pain Relief

September 2009 has been proclaimed Pain Awareness Month in Michigan by Governor Jennifer Granholm.  Long known as experts in pain management, hospice treats many different kinds of pain to relieve the suffering of the individuals they serve. 

Hospice philosophy respects the patient’s perspective in defining pain, a notion best described by pain management pioneer Margo McCaffery, RN:  ‘Pain is whatever the patient says it is and exists whenever and wherever the patient says it does.’  Pain can be rooted in the disease process, in emotional turmoil or in spiritual angst.  Hospice’s holistic nature treats the whole person.

Pain is assessed according to its intensity, location, type, duration and anything that brings relief.  The nurse may ask a patient to rate his or her discomfort on a 0 to 10 scale, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain imaginable.  Once pain is measured, it is treated aggressively until the patient and family are satisfied. 

Pain treatment is determined by the type of pain experienced; these include muscle, bone, nerve and visceral.  Relief may come in the form of medication, hot or cold compresses, repositioning, massage or other physical means.  Pain that stems from emotional or spiritual difficulty may be relieved by a visit from the social worker or the chaplain.

“Because hospice is so good at pain management, other health care professionals often look to us for expertise in this arena,” states Jeff Towns, President/CEO of the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. 

For more information, please contact your local hospice – Hospice at Home at 269-429-7100 or 1-800-717-3811, or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org or to learn more about the hospice providers in your area go to www.mihospice.org.

New Guys-n-Grief

Are you a man who is grieving the death of someone in your life recently or long ago?  Grief is an experience in life like no other. People live out the process of grief as uniquely as their own being.  Grief is a time of need where support can offer comfort that goes beyond words.  It claims no gender because Guys do Grieve.

Through sharing concern and support for one another, we often find the courage, patience and compassion to grieve in our own way and at our own pace.  Grief can be a point of connection and we invite men of all ages to become a part of Guys–n-Grief, a Grief and Social Support Group of Hospice at Home and Lory’s Place.  Men, come share conversation and encouragement as you adjust to life’s “new normal.”

The monthly groups are being offered at four locations:

1st Tuesday of each month from 10:00 -11:00 AM at Lory’s Place, 445 Upton Drive, St. Joseph

1st Tuesday of each month from 10:00 -11:00 AM at the South Haven Hospice at Home Office, 05055 Blue Star Highway, South Haven

4th Wednesday of the month from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at the River Valley Senior Center, 13321 Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer

4th Thursday of the month from 4:00 – 5:00  PM at the Buchanan Hospice at Home Office, 4017 Chamberlain, Buchanan
 

Hospice at Home also offers ongoing groups that meet during the evening for adults and children at Lory’s Place Grief Healing and Education Center. The groups include regularly scheduled age-appropriate support group sessions that allow children and adults to interact with peers who have suffered similar loss. Groups for children and adults who are anticipating a loss or who have experienced a loss through pregnancy are also available, as well as educational and workplace grief programs. New this year is a suicide loss support group. All community bereavement services are provided free of charge thanks to local community contributions.

For more information about Hospice at Home call 1-800-717-3811 or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Suicide Loss Support Group

Lory’s Place, a grief healing and education center of Hospice at Home, is expanding its program services to include offering a peer support group for adults who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives by way of suicide.  The adult participants will gain peer support while gaining a better understanding of the individual journeys of grief.

As of 2006, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death for all ages.  More than 33,000 suicides occurred in the US.  This is the equivalent of one suicide every 16 minutes.   Among young adults ages 15-24 years old, there are approximately 100-200 attempts for every completed suicide.  Among adults 65 years and older, there are approximately 4 suicide attempts for every completed suicide.  Males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females and represent 79% of all US suicides.  During their lifetime, women attempt suicide about 2-3 times as often as men.  These statistics are alarming and are relevant in our communities today.

The program direction for the Suicide Loss Support Group will follow the same direction of the other support groups offered at Lory’s Place.  All of the peer groups are open, allowing new participants to join at any time in their grief story.  The programming is based on the individual participant’s needs and is a model which identifies grief as work to be done, while being supported and nurtured in the process.  All of the services of Lory’s Place are offered at no charge to the participants.

For more information about the newest program service of Lory’s Place, please call 269-983-2707  or (800) 717-3812, or go to www.lorysplace.org. For more information about Hospice at Home and other community bereavement services 1-800-717-3811, or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Hospice Care Provides Families Financial Relief and Saves Medicare Money

(Southwest, MI) – At a time when many families in Michigan are finding it difficult to pay for medications and health care, hospice care provides financial relief to its patients and families.  Medications and equipment related to the terminal illness, visits by medical and nursing professionals, home health aides, short-term inpatient care, and bereavement support for the family following death are all provided by hospice care. Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, providing a tremendous financial relief to families with seriously ill loved ones.

Findings of a major study of hospice care in America show that hospice services save money for Medicare and bring quality care to patients with life-limiting illness and their families. The study from Duke University found:

•  Hospice reduced Medicare costs by an average of $2,309 per hospice patient.

•  Increasing length of hospice use by just three days would increase savings due to hospice by nearly 10 percent, from around $2,300 to $2,500 per hospice user.

•  Medicare costs would be reduced for seven out of ten hospice recipients if hospice has been used for a longer period of time the study found.

 
“Hospice helps people live with dignity, comfort, and compassion and brings needed support to family caregivers.  To know definitively that it provides a cost savings to Medicare is an additional benefit,” states Jeff Towns, President/CEO, Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

Hospice is not a place but a philosophy of care that provides pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families. To learn more about the hospice providers in your area go to www.mihospice.org.

Hospice at Home Physician Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care

Local physician and Hospice at Home Medical Director, Dr. George Drake, recently became Hospice and Palliative Medicine board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, one of the certifying boards co-sponsoring the examination.

“Dr. Drake’s passion for end of life care and especially for the mission of Hospice at Home is unquestionable,” states Linda Beushausen, President and CEO of Hospice at Home. “Our patients and families are blessed by having him as part of their care team and I know all of us are blessed by his presence in our lives personally and professionally.”

Certification is a rigorous, comprehensive program for evaluating physicians to assure patients, colleagues, employers and payers that a physician has achieved competence for practice in the field of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Although certification is sought and earned by physicians on a voluntary basis, it is widely recognized as an essential tool to judge that a physician has the knowledge, experience and skills to provide quality palliative care. It is considered the gold standard for assessing qualifications. The first Hospice and Palliative Medicine certification exam sponsored by American Board of Family Medicine and the co-sponsoring boards was held in 2008.

Hospice at Home is the non-profit community hospice focusing on the patient and family regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay. It provides quality care to people adjusting to living with a serious illness, to people facing death, to people anticipating the death of a loved one, or to people healing their grief after the death of a loved one. Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services. Serving Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan Counties, the care is coordinated by a team of physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement coordinators, and trained volunteers. Extending this care, Lory’s Place, a bereavement and education center that builds hope and strength for every grieving family, is available to anyone in Southwest Michigan or Northern Indiana.

For more information about Hospice at Home call 1-800-717-3811 or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.

Quality of Life Matters - End of Life Care News & Clinical Findings for Physicians

Newsletter Feb/Mar/Apr 2009



Provided as an Educational Service by Your Local Hospice Organization