Hospice Foundation of America E-Newsletter
April 2004
Hospice Foundation of America E-Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 4
April 2004
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Message from David Abrams, President
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As many of you know, HFA will broadcast its Eleventh National Bereavement Teleconference on Wednesday, April 28. "Living With Grief: Alzheimer's Disease," will be seen in over 2,000 communities. The teleconference has come to be recognized as the leading grief and bereavement training program in the country, having reached more than a half million professionals in communities across the US and Canada. We encourage you to join us on April 28 to participate in what Jack Gordon, Chairman and CEO of HFA, describes as "the largest classroom in the world." If you can't join us for the broadcast, we hope you'll add the companion book to your library, which contains a wide range of information on this area of grief and bereavement. [Note: Mr. Gordon served as Chairman and CEO of HFA until his death in 2005.]
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Focus on: HFA's National Bereavement Teleconference
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In the foreword of HFA's most recent publication, Living With Grief: Alzheimer's Disease, Jack Gordon, discusses why HFA has chosen this subject for this year's program. The trajectory of Alzheimer's disease may often seem at odds with the six-month limit for hospice admission as set by the Medicare Hospice Benefit. But as the authors in the book make clear, as will the panelists on the live broadcast, "the answer can teach all of us more about the appropriate use of the hospice model and the relevance of hospice philosophy in situations that seem, at first glance, to be outside hospice parameters.Hospice principles can make care for Alzheimer's patients and their families more humane." Two components of the hospice philosophy are especially relevant for those coping with Alzheimer's-the recognition of, and support offered to, family caregivers, and the understanding of the grief and bereavement issues that can accompany this devastating illness.
In conjunction with the teleconference, HFA has developed an extensive set of resources as part of our ongoing initiative on Alzheimer's Disease, including:
--the "Taking Action" sheet, listing ten practical steps that professionals can take to improve the policies, programs and practices surrounding those coping with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. If you plan to attend the teleconference on April 30 you will receive a printed copy. You can also download this document in PDF format.
--Our companion book, "Living With Grief: Alzheimer's Disease." Edited by Kenneth J. Doka, the book features chapters on a comprehensive range of subjects written by the teleconference panelists and other experts, as well as "Voices" contributions from family caregivers and an extensive Resource List.
View the full Table of Contents.
Read two chapters:
"Grief and Dementia by Kenneth J. Doka"
"Alzheimer's Disease and the Quality of Life by Bruce Jennings"
More resources will be posted on our web site after the teleconference; watch your May e-newsletter for more details.
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Special Thanks
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Hospice Foundation of America extends its gratitude to Cokie Roberts for her eleven years as Moderator of our National Bereavement Teleconference. Her expertise and compassion have made her an integral part of these programs, and we applaud her role in furthering the understanding of grief and loss.
We also wish to extend a special thanks to our sponsors:
The Foundation for End-of-Life Care
The Association for Death Education and Counseling
The U.S. Administration on Aging
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The Adventist Communication Network will broadcast the teleconference live over its national network with more than 1,300 satellite locations. To find the nearest Adventist Communication Network site and check availability, call ACN at 1-800-226-1119.
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What's New @ HFA
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In a communications piece sent to 250 newspapers, HFA Chairman Jack D. Gordon notes that the economic costs of caregiving for Alzheimer's patients are often lost in health care economics, but policy makers need to realize that Alzheimer's disease presents a statistical time bomb. [Note: Mr. Gordon served as Chairman and CEO of HFA until his death in 2005.]
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Locate a Teleconference Site
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If you are an individual interested in attending the HFA annual Teleconference broadcast in April, you can locate a site in your area.
Please be sure to contact the local site coordinator listed for information about attending the teleconference at his or her location. Some sites have limited space and a reservation must be made with the local site coordinator. Individual attendees do not need to register with Hospice Foundation of America.
You can also call us at 800-854-3402 and the staff will do its best to help you find a viewing site in your area.
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Site Coordinator's Corner
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Remember: Teleconference books can be ordered at the Site Coordinator discount price through May 28, although we cannot guarantee delivery by the date of the broadcast. You may extend this offer to your site participants by taking orders onsite (orders must be placed by the Site Coordinator, and all books ordered will be sent to you for distribution.) Offering books to your participants at the discounted price is another great benefit to hosting a site, and your audience will appreciate the opportunity as well. Your site should have received 50 copies of the program and tip sheets. Should you need additional copies, you can download the documents and make as many copies as needed. Suggested questions to help guide your local discussion are also posted on the password-protected Site Coordinator section of the web site.
Please be sure that you have all of your materials before the teleconference broadcast. Due to the nature of the live broadcast, the HFA staff will not be available on April 28.
If you have questions or concerns about your registration, please call us at 800-854-3402 or send an email to telecon@hospicefoundation.org.
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F.Y.I.
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The Brookdale Foundation Group has issued a Request for Proposals for the start-up of social model group respite programs in the U.S. for people with Alzheimer's disease and their family caregivers. Any 501(c)(3) or equivalent not-for-profit health or service agency wishing to develop a social model day program for Alzheimer's families is invited to apply. Interested agencies may download an application and proposal guidelines from The Foundation's Web site (click on "Respite Program" at the top of the page).
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This newsletter is sent to more than 6,540 subscribers on
the 2nd Wednesday of every month to keep you informed
of what is happening in the fields of hospice, grief
and bereavement, and caregiving, as well as what's new
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This newsletter is published by Hospice Foundation
of America
1621 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009
Jack D. Gordon, Chairman
David Abrams, President
http://www.hospicefoundation.org
© Hospice Foundation of America 2004
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