Hospice Foundation of America
E-Newsletter
Volume 6, Issue 11
November 2006
http://www.hospicefoundation.org

Each November, Hospice Foundation of America is proud to honor all hospice professionals during National Hospice Month. Hospice Foundation of America provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care with the goal of enhancing the American health care system and the role of hospice within it. Whatever role you play in helping families deal with end-of-life issues, death, and grief, we encourage you to tell people in your community about the unique and vital work that hospice does, this month and every month. The publications and programs developed by HFA can help you educate your community about the broad range of services that hospice can offer. These suggestions offer some easy ways to reach out to your community.

In celebration of National Hospice Month, HFA is pleased to announce our new interactive Message Board for professionals and consumers. Please see our “What’s New” column below for more information.

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Focus on: Holiday Bereavement Support Programs

One of the most valuable and unique components of hospice care is the bereavement support that hospice professionals provide to families, before and after the death. The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for those who are grieving. Last month we asked readers to submit information about the programs that their organizations provide, and we’re happy to share some of these creative ways that hospices respond to the needs of their communities.

For our non-hospice readers, these programs can be adapted to many environments where grievers reside, and we encourage you to explore these and similar programs using the great knowledge and experience of your hospice neighbors. Hospitals, nursing homes, various shelters and mental health programs may find benefit for their clients.

On December 10, The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting unites family and friends around the globe as they light candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause. As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor children in a way that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries. Go to: www.compassionatefriends.org and click on the Candle Logo on the Home Page.

In a relatively short time period, hospice care has made a great difference in the way people live and die. However, many people do not understand the benefits and realities of hospice care. During National Hospice Month, you can help dispel some of the common myths about hospice.

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HFA’s 14th Annual National Bereavement Teleconference, Living With Grief^®: Before and After the Death

HFA’s 14th annual National Bereavement Teleconference, Living With Grief^®: Before and After the Death, will be broadcast Thursday, March 22, 2007 from 1:30--4:00pm. This teleconference, as well as the accompanying book, will explore the most current theoretical perspectives on loss and grief as experienced by persons throughout a life-limiting illness and by survivors after the death. A particular focus will be paid to areas where understandings of grief have been challenged. The program will be useful to a range of professionals who counsel persons who are bereaved including psychologists, counselors, clergy, social workers, nurses, case managers and other health care workers, and funeral directors, as well as educators, teachers and school-based personnel. The information will also be helpful to individuals who offer education on loss, grief, dying or death.

Frank Sesno, an Emmy-award winning journalist, special correspondent with CNN and a faculty member George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, will moderate the program, which features panelists:
• Scott W. Bradley, MSW, CT, CFSP
• Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv
• Lorraine Hedtke, MSW, ACSW, LCSW
• Patricia Murphy, PhD, APN, FAAN
• Robert A. Neimeyer, PhD
• Robert Washington, PhD, MDiv

We encourage you to be a Site Coordinator for this important program. Registration is now open; see the “Site Coordinator’s Corner” below for more information.

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What’s New @HFA

HFA is proud to announce it’s newest interactive feature, the Hospice Foundation of America Message Boards. The Message Boards are intended to be a place for caregivers and care recipients to come together and share their hospice experience. The message boards can be used to ask a question, share an experience or to ask for support from the virtual hospice community.

If you wish to post a message, click here to JOIN the board. Once you create a username and password, you will immediately be able to login and post a message, just click the Forums tab on your right. You may view the forums at any time. Please email msgboard@hospicefoundation.org if you have difficulty using this message board, or call us at 800-854-3402. NOTE: HFA's Message Boards have been discontinued.

Hospice Foundation of America publishes a Holiday issue of our bereavement newsletter, Journeys. The newsletter includes helpful ideas from Ken Doka, focusing on The Three C’s of Coping with Holiday Grief (PDF), as well as other authors.
Holiday Journeys can be ordered online here.

Many HFA readers have commented on the attractive covers of HFA’s teleconference companion books. We have used original graphics, images from 9-11, a sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and a painting by Picasso. For the 2007 companion book we are seeking to utilize artwork from those involved in grief work, whether as patients, therapists or survivors. We are considering art submissions of all types. Don’t hesitate to submit, for example, a photo of a quilt made by your hospice’s bereavement group. The winning entry will be displayed on 20,000 book covers and during the teleconference program. Click here for details.

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Saturday, November 18 is the 8th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Local conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place in over 100 cities throughout the country -- connecting survivors within their own communities and across the nation. And for those who don't live near a conference site or who find it difficult to attend in person, the program will also be broadcast live on the web, followed by a live online chat. For more information, see here.

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November is an important time for communities to honor and support those who work in caregiving and end-of-life care. In addition to being National Hospice Month, November is also National Alzheimer’s Disease Month and National Family Caregiver’s Month.

Find a list of 10 ways to celebrate National Family Caregiver’s Month here.

To understand more about the initiatives of National Alzheimer's Disease Month, check out this web site.

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Site Coordinator’s Corner

Registration for HFA’s 14th annual National Bereavement Teleconference is now open. This year’s teleconference, Living With Grief^®: Before and After the Death, will be broadcast Thursday, March 22, 2007 from 1:30--4:00pm. The fee to register is $25 per downlink site if registered before or on December 20, and $50 if registered after December 20. HFA is pleased to continue to make registration available for this important program at this low rate, to ensure accessibility to the largest possible audience.

ADDED SAVINGS: You may also purchase a copy of the Living With Grief: Before and After the Death full-length DVD at a $10 savings! The cost of registration, with the DVD, is $40 before or on December 20, and $65 after December 20. Be sure to register early for the greatest savings!

HFA has improved its registration process this year. Once your form and payment is received, you will promptly receive a detailed Site Coordinator’s Manual in the mail and a password to access teleconference materials on our website. Early next year, you will receive your complimentary copy of the teleconference companion book. Please contact us with any questions at 800-854-3402 or via e-mail at telecon@hospicefoundation.org.

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This newsletter is sent to more than 6,600 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 at HFA.  We encourage you to forward this e-newsletter to an interest colleague or friend. To subscribe, go to HFA's E-Newsletter sign-up page.

Privacy Statement: In no case will we share e-mail addresses. See the full text of HFA's Privacy Policy.

This newsletter is published by Hospice Foundation of America
David Abrams, President/CEO
http://www.hospicefoundation.org/
Board of Directors: Thomas E. Bryant, MD, JD; Myra MacPherson; Priscilla Perry; Patricia Spulak; Thomas Spulak
© Hospice Foundation of America 2006