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Kevin Clarke |
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Whatcom Hospice Foundation 800 East Chestnut, Suite 1C Bellingham, Washington 98225 (360) 733-1231 Mike Kirkland, Executive Director Mkirkland@peacehealth.org
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Whatcom Hospice provides special care for dying people and their families, emphasizing quality of life and life-closure issues, managing disease processes to minimize suffering, and helping patients and their families adjust to the changes brought on by advanced illnesses. With pain relief and symptom control, hospice patients can live their final days to the fullest at home, surrounded by loved ones.
In 2001, Whatcom and Skagit Hospices separated in order to meet growing demands within each county. Whatcom Hospice strengthened its collaboration with both medical providers and community members within Whatcom County. Whatcom Hospice now serves over 1,200 families each year, an increase of 50 percent in only one year. Hospice is a team approach to care that addresses the needs of the whole person and the family. The hospice team includes the patient and family, physicians, nurses; social workers, home health aides, chaplains, volunteers, and a pharmacist. Hospice team members make home visits to help people with a myriad of concerns that arise during terminal illness. Volunteers offer support, encouragement, and much needed breaks for at-home caregivers. Although Medicare funding is available to support hospice services, it is insufficient to cover the cost of care. Whatcom Hospice Foundation raises funds to ensure that the important work of caring for dying people will be available to those who choose hospice services, regardless of ability to pay. Since its inception in 1992, the Foundation has become a trusted and proven charity, with contributions in 2001 of $537,000. Contributions help in several ways: to fully pay the cost of care; to provide services, medications, medical equipment, and expensive, comforting treatments, like those for cancer, to patients needing financial assistance; and to educate staff, volunteers, and the community about issues surrounding death and dying. |
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| © 2002 Whatcom Community Foundation. All rights reserved. | ||||||
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