Various professionals serve us throughout our lives. This Advisory Perspective Series was created to allow you to see “behind the curtain” and get to know professionals. As you build your team in life asking questions to get to know them, what they do and how they will support you moving forward is so important. Select professionals who provide you with information to set-up your house in a way that supports you and your family. Choose wisely!
During November the home care and hospice community honor the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. To recognize their efforts, we call upon all Americans to commemorate the power of caring, both at the home and in their local communities and join with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) by celebrating November as Home Care and Hospice Month.
This series continues with the questions we’ve been asking professionals this year. These questions were designed to give you an idea of what to consider when meeting or selecting professionals for your team. Let’s have a look “behind the curtain” at what the professionals have to say.
The professionals I feature in this series are dedicated to their fields, to their clients and to you being prepared in all ways best for you. After the incredible care my family experienced this year through Hospice Compassus in the Quad Cities (IL) with mom, I extend deep appreciation and personally applaud the incredible care and well-being these “angels on earth” provide to families.
This month, The Living Planner Advisory Perspective Series features Hospice of the Valleys of the Temecula Valley. Hospice of the Valleys has been offering loving care to people with life-threatening illnesses, support to their families and service to the community in a spirit of enriching lives since 1982. As the only nonprofit hospice headquartered in the Temecula Valley, they understand that coping with terminal illness presents many challenges – physical and emotional – to the patient and the family. Their caring, experienced team of professionals and volunteers is prepared to meet those challenges and believes that no one, regardless of illness, age or ability to pay, should die alone or in pain.
Question 1. What do you enjoy about working with those who need your service?
I feel very blessed knowing Hospice of the Valleys is able to help our patients and their families through a very stressful time. We meet with patients and families at a very difficult time and it so rewarding to know that we are able to provide comfort, not only for their physical pain, but emotional pain as well. As a non profit, local, community hospice it is also rewarding to know that we are taking care of our community and that we are able to provide care as we would want to our own family members.
Question 2. How would you suggest a potential patient for family member prepare for a 1st meeting?
There is no right or wrong way to prepare for your first meeting. Typically, when someone is considering hospice they will have their own set of questions and concerns. We are here to listen to what their needs are and share with them how we can help. Our first meeting can be as short or as long as the patient and family would like – as long as it takes for them to feel like we’ve thoroughly answered their questions. We also encourage patients and families to interview hospices. There are many hospices in the area. Patients and families have a choice of which hospice they would like to use and I believe that interviewing hospices is an important way to determine whether it will be a good fit or not.
Question 3. When someone agrees to use your service what can they expect immediately? Over time?
Hospice of the Valleys’ first priority is to get the patient comfortable and if they are experiencing pain, to get that under control. Then, over the next few days the patient’s clinical team assesses their needs to determine how we can best work together to meet those needs. I can’t stress enough how we not only help the patient, but also their loved ones. We are here to walk with them through this journey. We are here to serve them.
Question 4. What is your service philosophy?
The Golden Rule. Hospice of the Valleys treats patients and their families the way we would like to be treated. We care for the whole person: mind, body and spirit, and we do this with dignity and respect. We respond to our patients needs as quickly as possible and are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. We care and want our patients to know they will be heard.
Question 5. What resources do you provide to assist “laypeople” with understanding what is being discussed?
We communicate with our patients and families in a way that is easy for them to understand. When a patient comes onto our service they are assigned a dedicated team of clinicians, which include a physician, case manager RN, and a medical social worker. In addition, the family may choose to have additional support from a medically trained chaplain, home health aide, and/or volunteer. The entire care team is dedicated to providing care and support to the patient and their family, which also includes education. The patient’s care plan changes as the patient’s needs change. We are also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bonus Question! If you were to relay one piece of advice to anyone reading this, what would it be?
Please know that you do not need to go through this difficult time alone or in pain. We are here to be of service and to care for our community. We are here to help. Please check our website: www.hospiceofthevalleys.org
For additional information about Hospice of the Valleys, contact Kristi Necochea, Hospice & Community Resource Provider. Office: 
951.200.7800 Cell: 951/639.7775 Fax: 951/973.7763
Thanks for being a part of the community.
–Lynn
We love assessing our readiness from all perspectives and invite you to connect to see how The Living Planner’s services may benefit you and your loved ones. Contact us via Email or online @ The Living Planner