Our vision is that every person and family in the Ozarks region faced with an end of life illness would be aware of and have access to dignity, comfort and compassion in an environment of their choice.
-Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks
In 2008 with grants totaling $100,000, the Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks funded hospice care, training for health care providers and caregivers, outreach, scholarships, complementary therapies and education to help people learn about and gain access to hospice care. Often working together are many organizations and health care professionals providing a full range of quality, compassionate services that are transforming the way dying is perceived and received in the Ozarks region. HFO is proud to support and partner with these organizations:
The Foundation is providing support for a new program, a pilot program, with Oxford Healthcare/Hospice. It is called Hospice Continuing Touch. The grant will provide for educational materials, and intern care team expense to keep in contact with hospice patients and their caregivers.
The program will assist patients who have decided to stop or postpone receiving hospice care but who plan to continue hospice at a later date. This program will enable patients to receive continuous contact with hospice staff during their time away from regular hospice care.
The Foundation was a major underwriter for the June 26, 2009 seminar planned by the Alzheimer's Association of Southwest Missouri. This educational event focused on assisting family members who are affected by loved ones with Alzheimer's disease.
The Hospice Foundation provided support for a nationally known mother-daughter team, Rachel Kail and Mary Sharp, to be the featured speakers. Both women have valuable tools to share with caregivers and have educated thousands on how to find some "Active Living" time for themselves. The program was entitled "The 360 degree total Dementia Care Universe."
For more information on this program 800-647-7416 or www.edcongroup.org
EPEC is an AMA approved training program for physicians and other health care professionals directed by the Community Alliance for Compassionate Care at the End of Life. EPEC courses are offered throughout southwest Missouri. They are designed to provide in-depth information about the skills needed to care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, to initiate end-of-life discussions with patients and families and to encourage a team approach for care of the dying.
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most debilitating illnesses of our time robbing the elderly and others of memory capacity and often their dignity. This grant helps the Southwest Missouri Chapter teach hospice staff and others about dementia care best practices. Funding also enables the Alzheimer's Association to provide educational tools and programs with specialized information to help health care professionals and caregivers improve end of life care for those suffering with dementia. Visit them at http://www.alz-swmo.org/
Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Music therapy interventions are part of an interdisciplinary treatment plan that are effective to alleviate pain, elevate moods, calm or sedate, and combat depression of hospice patients.
Scholarship support enables students from Drury University to pursue bachelor's degrees in music therapy and specialize in hospice music therapy through internship and practicums.
Through scholarship and additional support of music therapy, hospice patients can now receive assessments and treatment plans from certified music therapists to complement their plan of care. For details visit: www.hospicemusictherapy.com.
KY3 interviews Harry Beckett about his work with music therapy and Parkinson's disease patients.
Broadcasts of "A Lion in the House," "The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's," "Aging in America: The Years Ahead" and "And Thou Shall Honor" are programs which have highlighted issues surrounding care for the terminally and chronically ill and encouraged the community to discuss what resources are needed and wanted at the end of life.
The Foundation provided support for the printing and production of a resource journal for physicians and health care providers on end of life care. The resource guide contains many articles written by area physicians and hospice providers, and its purpose is to answer questions, provide listings of area resources, and guide individuals and families through their journey at the end of life.
Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks, Inc.
3825 South Campbell Ave. Suite 179
Springfield, MO 65807 (417) 875-6385