Hospice launches education campaign

The Community Hospice is in the midst of a major campaign to increase public awareness and understanding of end-of-life issues. The campaign is also designed to raise funds, public support and participation in the hospice movement.

The Community Hospice, a collaborative partner of St. Peter's Health Care Services, has service centers in Albany County, Amsterdam, Columbia/Greene, Rensselaer County, Saratoga and Schenectady.

Phil Di Sorbo, executive director, said that while statistics show that approximately 80 percent of the public would prefer to die at home, only 20 percent actually do so. That discrepancy, along with the many misconceptions that persist about hospice care and the lack of information about hospice services to the community, prevent many people from receiving the end-of-life benefits available to them, he said.

Three objectives

The campaign is focusing on three major objectives: raising public awareness about end-of-life issues and the hospice movement; engaging the community in volunteer involvement; and eliciting contributions for the Hospice Good Will Fund and Advanced Illness Programs.

Dr. Janet Gargiulo, MD, touted the value of the Advanced Illness Partnership Program, which serves persons with life-limiting illness who are not yet appropriate for hospice care. One of the criteria for hospice care is a life expectancy

of six months or less.

However, "because of the ever-expanding and more successful array of treatment options," she explained, "more people with life-limiting illnesses are living longer and requiring services earlier than Hospice. The need for expert pain and symptom control is crucial, as is the need for emotional and spiritual support for patients, their caregivers and their loved ones."

Volunteer help

Elizabeth Hughes, a participant in the Advanced Illness/Palliative Home Care Program, said that volunteers eased the burden on her husband by picking up medications and transporting her to medical appointments.

"This program has greatly enhanced the quality of my life and provides services that are outside the realm of what my health insurance policy will pay for," she explained.

Denise Cokes lauded the Wave Riders Program for grieving children, which her sons attended after the death of their grandmother.

"With this program, all of us were able to talk about our feelings and had a Hospice team there to support us. It was something really great," she said.

Cost-effective

Susan Law Dake, former chair of the Community Hospice board of directors, said that hospice services are not only comforting and compassionate, but cost-effective as well.

"The vast majority of healthcare expenditures are made in the last six months of life," she noted. "So you have to ask yourself, do you want to spend those final days and weeks in the hospital for one more medical procedure? Or do you want to spend time with your loved ones?"

(For information about Community Hospice, call 724-0200.)

(5/22/03) [[In-content Ad]]