By Linda Donovan, Grief Support Volunteer - Hospice of Santa Cruz County
I was very impressed, but not surprised when I read the
excellent article in the San Jose Mercury News, The Cost of Dying: A shift in how we end our lives.
This article highlighted how more Medicare patients are choosing hospice over
hospitals at the end of life. It referenced research that said 70 percent of
Californians would rather die at home and 67 percent said it was extremely
important to not burden families with care costs. The article discussed the
value of “shifting patients to hospice and family homes where caregivers try to
ease the discomforts of dying.”
Santa Cruz County was highlighted for having 53.1 percent of
Medicare patients choose hospice at end of life in 2010 —the highest proportion
of patients selecting hospice in the Bay Area. That was about 10% higher for
Santa Cruz than in 2007. In fact, Santa Cruz is one of the few areas where’ out
of pocket costs for these people declined. Why didn’t any of this news surprise
me? Because my family used Hospice of Santa Cruz County services when my late
husband was terminally ill and I’ve been actively involved as grief support
volunteer for hospice since 2008. I’ve seen, experienced, and shared the gift
that this hospice provides to people with compassionate care at the end of
life.
The article mentioned that Santa Cruz stands out for its
low-intensity, high-touch standard of care. It attributes Santa Cruz County’s
success to the tight bond among doctors, hospitals, and civic groups and
referenced the value of Hospice of Santa Cruz County: “Additionally, its
leading hospice has existed for 35 years, cultivating trust.”
Michael Milward, CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County, said
in the article, “We have a remarkably collaborative community that is able to
meet each other at the edges, having tough conversations that involve
high-quality, low-cost and practical solutions.” According to Milward, by
having these conversations, hospice knows who can offer the best service to
people at the end of life, as well to their families.
What does this best service look like when people choose
Hospice of Santa Cruz County? It includes an array of qualified people,
resources, and services available to meet the many needs of seriously ill
individuals and their family. When you or your family selects this hospice, a
whole team is assigned to help. The social worker identifies needs and
concerns and helps guide the
individual and family through this difficult time. Nurses visit regularly and
can be available at 24 /7 with just a phone call. It’s like the old days of
when doctors routinely made house calls instead of sick people having to wait
in an office lobby for medical treatment. Medications and medical equipment are
delivered to the home. A chaplain is available to provide spiritual guidance.
Volunteer visitors offer much-needed support to everyone involved with caring
for their loved one. Hospice even
offers transitional care services to
support people who are not yet ready for hospice care and need help with clarifying their healthcare decisions and identifying
other community resources.
Grief support is a critical service provided by Hospice of
Santa Cruz County. Resources are available to help the family while they are
caring for their loved one. After the loss, people in the community can attend
one-on-one grief support sessions, scheduled grief groups, or specialized
programs, such one focused on the needs of children. These services help
prepare people as they adjust to their lives after the loss. In addition, grief
support services are not only for hospice families — they are also available to
the entire community.
Hospice of Santa Cruz County continues to make a difference
in the lives of so many people. Just recently, hospice broadened its reach by
opening a Center
for End of Life Care in Watsonville. I’ve seen and experienced the depth of
compassionate care by hospice. Having it recognized in the San Jose Mercury
News article validates the commitment and service of this amazing non-profit organization.
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