November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and it also marks the anniversary of our own organization, Hospice Services of Lake County, formed in 1979 by a group of concerned volunteers.
Hospice Services of Lake County will mark the month with a series of articles to help bring about awareness of end-of-life issues. In addition, the organization’s annual “Light Up a Life” gatherings are scheduled for three dates and locations in November (Nov. 2 in Lakeport, Nov. 12 in Clearlake, and Nov. 17 in Middletown). We hope you’ll join us for these candle-lighting ceremonies of remembrance.
In honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, the Lake County Board of Supervisors and the City of Clearlake will issue proclamations calling for an “increase in awareness and understanding of care at the end of life.”
Physician Dame Cicely Saunders first used the term “hospice” to describe specialized care for dying patients. Saunders, who began her work with the terminally ill in 1948, created the first modern hospice facility, St. Christopher’s Hospice, in a suburb of London. In 1963 she introduced the idea to the United States with a visit and lecture at Yale University.
Hospice Services of Lake County started as a small organization assisting only a few patients in 1980. In 2015, our team of trained staff provided hospice care to 315 patients, and to 262 patients to date this year. Sixty-five individuals including adults and children have received grief counseling in response to the loss of a family member or loved one. Trained volunteers providing patient care and bereavement services are an integral part of our organization. Last year 150 volunteers provided 12,865 hours of services assisting us in support of our mission.
The core of hospice service is to provide patient- and family-centered care ensuring the highest quality of life at the end-of-life wherever you call home. Our specially trained staff ensure that families receive the necessary support to allow that to happen. Services include nursing care, symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support tailored to a patient’s needs and wishes.
No patients are turned away if they do not have the means to pay for Hospice care. Services are paid for by Medicare, Medi-Cal, the Veteran’s Administration, private health insurance, personal payments, and financial support from our community through individual and corporate donations.
Hospice Services of Lake County encourages you to know your options for care and to share your wishes with family, loved ones and your professional healthcare providers. We have many services to assist you.
We invite you to see how our compassionate team can assist you and your loved ones. We are happy to talk with you about the services that we provide and how we can help. Call us at (707) 263-6222, or visit us at 1862 Parallel Drive, Lakeport. Additional information is also available on our website, www.lakecountyhospice.org.
Corrigan Gommenginger is a Certified Hospice Administrator and the chief executive officer for Hospice Services of Lake County.
