Living With Grief: Alzheimer's Disease

Hospice Foundation of America’s Eleventh Annual National Living With Grief Video Teleconference
April 28, 2004 1:30 p.m.-- 4:00 p.m. E.D.T.

What is the Hospice Foundation of America National Video Teleconference?

Annually, the Hospice Foundation of America produces the National Living With Grief Teleconference.  The teleconference is a live-via-satellite televised broadcast which is simultaneously "downlinked" to satellite dishes all over the country. This allows an unlimited number of organizations and communities to participate and host the event locally.

“Each teleconference seems to be better organized for content and presentation than the year before. It is a real pleasure to be part of this endeavor!”

--Trish Benton, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan, Newburgh NY

How will hosting a teleconference site benefit my organization and my community?

The teleconference allows your organization to offer an award-winning educational program to health care professionals and other caregivers in your community. In addition, you have an opportunity to present your own on-site session as part of the total teleconference program, which provides new opportunities for professional collaboration and peer support and networking. Many organizations co-host sites with other area groups to share resources, broaden audiences, and help develop a strong community network that otherwise might not exist.

The teleconference also offers the opportunity for your organization to provide a high-quality training program to professionals. Three hours of Continuing Education Unit credits are available for a wide range of professions, including nurses, social workers, physicians, psychologists, licensed counselors, nursing home administrators, clergy, EMS personnel, EAP professionals, and funeral directors. Please note: each participant who applies for CEU credits must pay a $25 processing fee to HFA on the day of the live broadcast, this is submitted with their CEU evaluation.

Hosting organizations are encouraged to hold a local on-site session following the teleconference broadcast. (An on-site session of at least ½-hour in length is required for sites offering CEUs.) The local on-site segment increases personal involvement among the participants, strengthens interaction with the hosting organization, and highlights issues specific to each community.

“I am always surprised at how many people are interested in this program. I have offered it for the past five years and every year there are more participants.”

--Marilyn Kooiker, UW Extension, Burnett County WI

HFA provides hosting organizations with solid support in planning the teleconference. Each organization must register with HFA and designate a Site Coordinator--an organized, detail-oriented person on staff who works closely with HFA. The Site Coordinator receives all teleconference materials and is responsible for securing meeting space with satellite capability and planning and publicizing the teleconference in his or her community. 

What support does HFA provide in the planning and publicizing of the teleconference?

HFA provides each Site Coordinator with comprehensive support materials. These include a Site Coordinator's Manual, a comprehensive "how-to-do-it" guide that provides step-by-step checklists and detailed information. Site Coordinators receive ideas about audience development, guidelines on structuring the local portion of the program, and useful suggestions about planning the event. HFA also provides a complete Media Kit in hard copy and on computer diskette. The kit includes a sample press release, calendar listings, letters to the editor and other officials, public service announcements, and a simple brochure that can be localized with your information. Teleconference materials are made available at HFA’s web site in a special password-protected page for Site Coordinators only. Additional materials include programs to distribute to attendees, full CEU support materials, and a copy of HFA’s companion book of essays written by leading experts in the field of loss and aging.

What costs are involved in hosting the teleconference?

There is a Materials Fee of $25 per downlink site to help cover the cost of support materials, which are sent to the registered Site Coordinator The materials fee can be paid by check or credit card (Visa/MC/Amex) and must accompany the registration form. HFA does not charge an individual participant fee, although some sites do charge a small fee at the local level to help cover costs.

Are additional copies of the companion book of articles available?

Yes, registered Site Coordinators may purchase additional copies of the companion book at greatly reduced prices. The companion book explores the teleconference themes and objectives in more depth and serves as an outstanding resource for those concerned with loss and the elderly.

There is not a satellite dish at my organization. How can my organization participate?

The analog signal that is used to send out the teleconference can be accessed by a dish with either KU-band or C-band capability, which are the two most common types. To find a dish in your community, contact a local college or university, medical center, municipal office, school system, or even a local hotel. Your local public television station may also be able to assist you. The teleconference is also carried live by the Adventist Communication Network. An ACN satellite in your area may be available. Contact HFA for more information. In past years many of our downlink sites have found that organizations with satellite dishes are willing to provide the satellite and the meeting space at no cost, as a community service.

Go to: Living With Grief Teleconference  |