HFA's E-Newsletter - June 2011

Volume 11, Issue 6

In this issue:  

Message from Amy Tucci, President and CEO

Here at Hospice Foundation of America, we've just completed two exciting meetings where panelists shaped the curriculum for our upcoming educational programs. The first of these programs makes its debut this fall as HFA's New Perspectives program, an annual program that will address the latest research and thinking on issues related to grief, death and dying. We'll go a step further by helping professionals understand how to apply these new perspectives to their practice. Beyond Kübler-Ross: New Perspectives in Death, Dying and Grief will explore what has been learned since Kübler-Ross published her epochal book "On Death and Dying" in 1969. Although her theory is still widely referenced in textbooks from high school to medical school, and remains embraced in popular culture as a formula for how people die and grieve, many significant researchers have posited more in-depth theories and models. Our panel will examine what we know about death, dying and grief more than 40 years later, and what should be taught, understood, and practiced today.

HFA's second program, our well-known Living with Grief® program that is now in its 19th year, takes on End-of-Life Ethics, a topic that is continually thought-provoking and relevant. Our panel of experts takes the position that everyone involved in end-of-life care should have a basic understanding of ethical principles, and that organizations should have processes, structures, and policies for deciding ethical dilemmas. We've just opened registration for both of these important programs, both of which will be released on DVD. Based on our correspondence with our viewers, providing programming in this format allows for greater flexibility in scheduling and presentation. You can register online or complete the paper registration form and return to HFA via fax or mail.

As part of our ongoing commitment to professional education, HFA recently shared information about the materials we've developed under a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services grant with hospice professionals, educators and others in the DC area. Our staff enjoyed this opportunity to share resources which are available at no cost. You can use these materials as well by visiting the Hospice Information Center at http://www.hospicefoundation.org/infocenter, where you can download fact sheets in various languages, use informational videos for staff and patients, and watch webcasts on a variety of subjects. Some of the webcasts offer free continuing education from a range of boards.

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Focus on: Choosing a Hospice 

"I think we all expect the highest quality care from whichever health provider we choose... especially when it comes to something as sensitive as end-of-life care. Although there are literally thousands of hospice programs in the U.S. - the beauty of quality hospice care is that it empowers the patient and family to have the best possible experience at such a difficult time."
--from HFA's new video on Quality Hospice Care

A commonly asked question from consumers is, "how do I go about choosing a hospice?" In many situations, families are making decisions because of a change in prognosis, or even during a health crisis. While the option of hospice and palliative care has become more accepted and understood in the past years, families are understandably concerned about choosing the program that will best meet the needs of their loved ones.

A common misconception about hospice is there is one "national" hospice program or organization. In fact, there are more than 5,000 programs in the US, all of which operate independently. . Some are associated with larger healthcare systems; some are small non-profits. Some communities are served by multiple programs, and other areas may only have one hospice provider.

Many hospices do choose to be certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Some hospices also choose to become accredited by one of three national, independent accrediting agencies: the Community Health Accreditation Program, known as CHAP (www.chapinc.org); the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (www.achc.org); and the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, known as the Joint Commission (www.jointcommission.org)

HFA recently developed a video focusing on "Quality Hospice Care." The program is available free-of-charge at our Hospice Information Center. This recently released webcast has already received rave reviews and has been picked up by a number of organizations that have linked to the video. Feel free to link to it from your site as well.

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Spirituality and Meaning-Making: A More In-Depth Look

As part of HFA's annual educational program focusing on these issues, HFA is offering a three-part webinar series, addressing aspects of spirituality at life's end in greater depth. Webinars will be accessible to registrants for a year after their live air dates.

On the first program, which aired live in May, Ken Doka and other experts looked at spiritual meaning making at the end of life, utilizing techniques such as Reminiscence and Life Review. The next program examined other meaning-making approaches such as Dignity Enhancement Therapies and Living Eulogies. The third program in the series, which will air live on July 13, will look more closely at how to assist clients coping with spiritual distress at the end of life.

The webinars are a great way for organizations to offer additional programming for staff and community members on these important issues. The programs are available as archived versions online for one year after the original live air dates. Free CE's for professionals are included, for the first week after each start date, and are only $5/participant after that date. Learn more.

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What’s New @ HFA’s Hospice and Caregiving Blog

HFA’s Hospice and Caregiving Blog gathers and disseminates information useful to professionals and consumers from a single destination. Our goals are to inform, offer support, and generate online comments about important end-of life issues. Read some of the blog’s most recent postings:

Subscribe to the Hospice and Caregiving blog feed and follow us on Twitter.

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New and Updated Offerings from HFA

Hospice Foundation of America is pleased to announce its newly updated publication, A Caregiver's Guide to the Dying Process. HFA's bereavement and medical experts have enhanced our previous publication to present information in a way that is less clinical and intimidating to those who are caring for a loved one at the end of life. In addition to the enhanced information, HFA has given the booklet a new, easy to read layout and title.

A Caregiver's Guide to the Dying Process is now available at our online store. Individuals and families may order for $5.95, (plus shipping charges.) Bulk orders are available in packages of 50 or 100 to organizations that wish to distribute the guide among their patients and families. A box of 50 Guides is just $197.50, or save when you order 100 Guides for only $299.99.

Other items:

Grieving the Loss of a Father - on Father's Day- this tipsheet offers suggestions organizations can share with their bereavement groups.


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This newsletter is sent to over 8,000 subscribers 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. 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
Amy Tucci, President and CEO
http://www.hospicefoundation.org
© Hospice Foundation of America 2011

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