Hospice Foundation of America Establishes Hospice Patient Locater Message Board at www.hospicefoundation.org in Response to Hurricane Katrina
Our thoughts at Hospice Foundation of America go to those who have suffered catastrophic loss in the Gulf States. This special edition of our e-newsletter is being sent to inform you of a resource that may be of assistance; please watch for our regular September e-newsletter next week.
Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) has established an Internet-based bulletin board to help reconnect families to hospice patients in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. "Since the flooding began in the Gulf region, we have received numerous calls from families and friends of hospice patients who cannot locate their loved ones," said Jack Gordon, HFA chairman. "They are obviously distressed." [Note: Mr. Gordon served as Chairman and CEO of HFA until his death in 2005.]
Family members will be able to post messages on the site, accessible at
www.hospicefoundation.org,
and hospice employees and others with knowledge of transfer arrangements
will be able to contact those who have posted messages. Hospice care is
delivered in a variety of places, including homes, nursing homes and
assisted living facilities, inpatient and residential hospices.
If you are visiting our website, please consider visiting our donation page and designating a donation toward the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. All funds will be used to assist hospices in the Gulf States area, and HFA donations will first go to hospices in need of assistance as a result of the hurricane and flooding. Hospice Foundation of America will match donations received that are designated for this effort.
Caring for the dying is difficult under normal circumstances; hospices face especially daunting challenges during natural disasters. HFA hopes that the Hospice Patient Locater will provide some needed support for families and hospice professionals.
