HOSPICE: COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL
Posted by Barbara Bontemps
We kicked off the month of March with our fundraising drive for Hospice of the East Bay and we were treated to a presentation by Robin Jones, Media Liaison for Hospice, who provided background on the compassionate end-of-life care that s hospice provides.
The first hospice program was started in Connecticut in 1974 and our local Hospice of the East Bay began its efforts in 1977. Their mission is to provide an alternative for the terminally ill to dying in hospitals, recognizing that the majority of Americans express their preference is to die at home.
Since its fo
unding, Hospice of the East Bay has treated over 23,000 patients, providing skilled nursing and pain management. They take a team approach and have over 400 volunteer case-workers working 24/7. In addition to skilled nursing and palliative care, they offer companionship, help in the home, respite care, and assist in planning funerals and memorial services.
unding, Hospice of the East Bay has treated over 23,000 patients, providing skilled nursing and pain management. They take a team approach and have over 400 volunteer case-workers working 24/7. In addition to skilled nursing and palliative care, they offer companionship, help in the home, respite care, and assist in planning funerals and memorial services.Hospice is available to those with a terminal diagnosis of 6 months or less and for those who are not actively receiving chemo or radiation therapy. A physician’s order is required to enter hospice.
Funding for hospice, which is totally non-profit, comes from donations and from their retail stores which sell gently used household items, clothing and furniture. Our fundraising partnership with Hospice during the month of March was valued in excess of $11,000 from the items donated! In addition, our club is donating all the monies contributed to fines during this period and matching those dollars one-to-one from the Endowment. That additional funding will total about $2,000. Thanks to all --- especially Steve Paddock, Ken Jew, Don O'Dell, Dick Burkhalter and Weylin Eng for making this campaign such a success. Thanks also to Mechanics Bank and OCC for allowing us to use their facilities for drop-off locations!