November- December 2006

Welcome to Connections.  The current edition of Connections and archives of previous editions are located in the ‘What’s New’ section of www.LIVEpartners.org.  Please forward this e-newsletter to your staff, coalition members and other organizational partners using the 'forward a friend' prompt at the bottom.

The Caring Connections Team wishes everyone a wonderful holiday season!

PBS Series, Second Opinion, Features Episodes on Chronic Pain and End of Life…Two upcoming episodes of PBS's award-winning medical series, Second Opinion, will focus on chronic pain and end of life.  The format of the series is designed to give viewers a sense of the discussions that go on between doctors behind closed doors, and to help consumers become better advocates for their own medical care.  A companion Web site to Second Opinion is available and includes episode transcripts, helpful information, links to additional resources, and more.  Air dates and times vary, and you can find out when Second Opinion airs on a station near you by clicking the "Check Local Listings" button on their home page at: www.pbs.org/secondopinion.

New Statewide Consumer Survey Report Available …The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) recently released survey results revealing that nearly 70% of California residents have not put their end-of-life wishes in writing. Only half of those surveyed have discussed their wishes with the person they would most want to be their health care proxy.  The study also examined the diverse views of different ethnic populations regarding end-of-life care.  The full report is available on www.chch.org.

National Forum Focuses on End-of-Life Issues in the Workplace…On November 1, Caring Connections sponsored a forum for national organizations in Washington, DC, Workplace End-of-Life Programs: The Value of Doing the Right Thing.  National business leaders and advocates discussed the challenges and costs of employees who are family caregivers, seriously ill, or grieving the loss of a loved one. Panelists included Elinor Ginzler from AARP, Ronald Moore, from Fidia Advisors, and Sandy Boost from Society for Human Resource Management.  Caring Connections’ It’s About How You LIVE – At Work resources are in the final stage of development – stay tuned!

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) Launches Online Caregiver Resource…FCA has an interactive state-by-state database on its Web site: “Caregiving Across the States.” This tool allows caregivers to find information they need to know about caregiver assistance and benefits in the state where they live.  Family caregivers of adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities can also find information about support programs.

Are You Doing Faith Community Outreach?...Caring Connections and The Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life are searching for examples of highly successful outreach initiatives to faith communities to include in their new Faith Community Outreach Guide.  If your hospice or coalition is currently involved with outreach to faith communities and you have had great success with your outreach initiative, please send an email directly to Ashley Hammarth at ahammarth@nhpco.org by Monday, December 11 and include an informal, brief description of your faith community outreach initiative.  Hospice and coalition models of faith community outreach are planned as one of the features of the Guide, along with other valuable tools and resources. 

ChiPPS E-Newsletter Available Online…The education work group of the Children’s Project on Pediatric Palliative/Hospice Services (ChiPPS) just released a newly formatted e-newsletter that is available for professionals working in pediatric palliative care.  The current issue focuses on “Teens Who are Coping with a Life-Threatening Illness.”  Access the current and past ChiPPS e-newsletters at www.nhpco.org/pediatrics.

New Caring Connections Brochures…Caring Connections is pleased to announce three new brochures that are ready to order from Marketplace and available for preview on www.caringinfo.org :

• Supporting Someone Who is Grieving
• How to Support Someone Caring for Another
• Talking About Treatment Options and Palliative Care: A Guide for Clinicians
   

“Find A Coalition” on NHPCO Web Sites…The recent changes to the NHPCO Web site include a change to the location of the “Find a Coalition” database.  While the links are the same on LIVEpartners.org, there is a change on the NHPCO homepage.  On the left hand side of the homepage, scroll down and click on “Member/Vendor Guide.”  On this page you will find four choices, the final one being “Find a Coalition” which will take you to the familiar “Find a Coalition” page. 

2007 Summer Conference Call for Proposals Open… Interdisciplinary care will be explored at NHPCO’s 2007 special topic conference: Caring for Mind, Body and Spirit: Psychosocial, Bereavement and Spiritual Needs at the End of Life (July 30 – August 2, Albuquerque, NM).  The call for proposals is open through December 18, 2006. Participants will have an opportunity to gather and explore mind, body and spirit, seeking new ways to honor the dying and their caregivers. Submit a proposal online. 

NHPCO’s Management and Leadership Conference, April 19-21, 2007…Advanced Registration for the 22^nd annual Management and Leadership Conference, Quality: A Bridge to the Future, is now open.  Join top hospice and palliative care experts from around the country as they share their insights about the successful implementation of strategies to improve access and quality. Register online. 

“Let’s Rethink Aging” Conference…The 2007 Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging will take place on March 7-10, 2007, in Chicago, IL. More than 4,000 multidisciplinary professionals will gather to network and to discuss the physical, emotional, social, economic and spiritual aspects of aging. Visit www.agingconference.org for more information.  Staff from Caring Connections will be presenting and exhibiting at the conference.  

State Sponsors for LIVE Campaign National Tour …Through the hard work of 25 state sponsor organizations, Caring Connections successfully completed the 2006 It’s About How You LIVE national speaking tour featuring Bill Colby.  Their combined efforts produced over 90 keynote speaking opportunities and over 130 newspaper articles, radio and TV programs which reached thousands of people across the country about the importance of advance care planning.  Bravo!!...and many thanks to state sponsors listed below!  Job well done!

Foundation for End-of-Life Care (Alaska)

Delaware End-of-Life Coalition

Florida Council of Community Coalitions

Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc.

Kokua Mau (Hawaii)

Idaho State Hospice Organization

Illinois State Hospice Organization

Indiana State Hospice Organization

Phillips County Caring Community Coalition (Kansas)

Kentucky Association of Hospice and Palliative Care

Maine Hospice Council

Missouri End-of-Life Coalition

Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association

Hospice Care Network (New York)

New York State Hospice Association

Project Compassion (North Carolina)

Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Oklahoma Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Oregon Hospice Association

Take Charge of your Life Partnership (Pennsylvania)

Tennessee Hospice Organization

Virginia Association for Hospices

Washington Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Hospice Care Corporation (West Virginia)

HOPE of Wisconsin

In 2007, Bill’s work as NHPCO’s Senior Fellow will focus more on outreach to national organizations and the media instead of a sponsored speaking tour.  Bill will continue to give keynote presentations at large meetings and requests can be emailed directly to him at bcolby25@aol.com. 

If your hospice or coalition has news and/or community engagement resources that you would like to include in “Connections”, please contact Ashley Hammarth at ahammarth@nhpco.org.

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