San Diego Hospice honors National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

By Margie M. Palmer | SDUN Reporter 

Unless you have a friend or family member who has, at some point, undergone end-of-life care at San Diego Hospice and The Institute of Palliative Medicine (SDHIPM), you may be unaware that such a service exists.

Hillcrest’s SDHIPM, though, has been around for more than 35 years. It was founded in 1977 by Dorris Howell and was established with the goal of providing care services for terminally ill patients and their families. Although some believe hospice is a brick-and-mortar destination, SDHIPM Communications and Public Relations Executive Director Melissa DelaCalzada said that is not the case.

“Hospice is really a service, whereas most people think of it as being our facility,” DelaCalzada said. “It’s actually a service that is provided to people who are terminally ill. We like to think of it as an extra layer of support to patients and their family members.”

Hospice addresses the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of those who are undergoing care. The team usually consists of a nurse, social worker, home-health aide and spiritual counselor who provide visits to the home or residence nursing facility.

In terms of physical care, DelaCalzada said SDHIPM has experts in pain management and symptom control that help ensure the patient’s pain is controlled in such a way that they are able to continue to have a good quality of life.

“Many people think this is more about the use of high powered drugs, but that’s not what this is about,” DelaCalzada said. “It is about providing symptom control in such a way the patients can still do the things they want and are able to make the most of each moment as long as their life lasts.”

Hospice also focuses on providing care to family members who are impacted by the terminal illness of a relative. A patient’s loved ones also experience anxiety when someone they care for receives a terminal diagnosis; they frequently have a number of questions about the process.

“We are all experts on terminal illness and we are here to help walk families and patients through what to expect during the course of the illness,” DelaCalzada said. “Our team members are able to help facilitate talks about loose ends or unfinished business that they might like to wrap up. … This is not something they have to go through alone.”

SDHIPM, she said, offers care to people of all ages and backgrounds.

“We offer programs for children who are terminally ill. Many people don’t like to think of children who are terminally ill but terminal illness knows no race or age,” she said. “We have extensive bereavement programs with the understanding that family members are just as much impacted by illness as the patients themselves. We have counselors that are available when the patients are still alive who can help talk them through anticipatory grief issues that may take place after they die. We also provide support to those who are affected after the loss occurs.”

Still, there are a number of misconceptions about what hospice care is, who pays for the services and exactly what services are available. DelaCalzada said she is hopeful that their planned events for November’s National Hospice and Palliative Care Month will bring greater awareness to the larger community.

One event, held Saturday, Nov. 17, was a free community workshop titled “A Roadmap to Health Care Decision Making.” The daylong sessions featured medical and legal experts speaking on advance directive, durable power of attorney and getting other legal affairs in order.

“When families are dealing with end-of-life issues, life can be quite chaotic, particularly trying to make sense out of all of the information that is presented,” said President and CEO Kathleen Pacurar in a release. “Through this free workshop and other events, San Diego Hospice wants the community to know that there’s help available that brings comfort, dignity and respect when they’re needed most.”

One of the biggest issues about hospice care, DelaCalzada said, is regarding financing. “Many people think it’s too expensive. What they don’t realize that it is covered under Medicare, Medical and most private insurances,” she said.

She also wants people to know that if they or someone they know is impacted by a terminal illness, it is not something they have to go through alone.

“Every day we hear from patients and their families that they wish they would have known about [hospice] sooner,” she said. “As an industry, we are here to help patients with their quality of life, helping with social, physical and emotional needs and looking at the whole person to make sure they are able to make the most of each moment for as long as they last.”

In addition to the workshop and open house events scheduled throughout the month, SDHIPM will host the 2012 Dignity Therapy Conference at their Hillcrest location Wednesday, Nov. 28 – Friday, Nov. 30. This will be the first time this training program will be held in the United States.

The company’s main campus is located at 4311 Third Ave. For more information, visit sdhospice.org or call 866-688-1600.