You, Me and Hospice: The Truth (Episode 64)

One of the things that we need to consider in our retirement lifestyle planning is how we are going to deal with illness and dying.  And, when the time comes, hospice care can be an excellent way of preparing ourselves for the inevitable. I knew that Jennifer was a hospice expert, but I didn't know that in 2006 she got her Master's Degree.  She worked with children at the time and went to school to get her Master's Degree.  She credits her professor with saving her life when he suggested that she work with hospice.  There are only two schools that offer courses on death and dying in San Diego. Jennifer Marsh is a community education and outreach specialist for Hospice of the North Coast. She has over ten years of creating, marketing and sustaining thriving educational programs to the general community about serious illness, care-giving and grief and loss issues. Jennifer has been published in the Touching Lives magazine (2009), and featured on KOCT-TV and Eldercare Talk Radio providing insight and resources to those coping with a serious illness, caring for a loved one and grieving. Jennifer is an expert on hospice and mortality and has been interviewed on the SevenPonds Blog. She has expertise in creating and implementing community outreach and fundraising events, including Breathe Deep San Diego. In 2013, she was named as a Finalist for the San Diego Women Who Mean Business Awards through the San Diego Business Journal. Everyone I know who works in hospice care is a caring person.  That field seems to attract loving and patient people.  Jennifer's mom had cancer, and even though she had already been working in her chosen field when this happened, she instantly became “the daughter”.  She knows what its like to have a loved one who has been diagnosed with a deadly disease. There are a lot of misconceptions about hospice and that's why I asked Jennifer to be on the show.  She shared with us the important truth about hospice: * Recommended reading is “Being Mortal“.  You can watch the documentary on Front Line. * National Hospice has a FAQ that answers common questions such as:    * When is the right time to ask about hospice? * How does care begin? * Will I be the only hospice patient that the staff serves? * Is care available after hours? * How does it work to keep the patient comfortable? * What role does the volunteer serve? * If I reside in a nursing facility or other type of long-term care facility can I elect hospice care? * What happens if I cannot stay at home due to my increasing care need and require a different place to stay during my final phase of life? * Do state and federal reviewers inspect and evaluate hospices? * How can I be sure that quality care is provided? To get the answers, just go to their website HERE.