Speakers/Speakers Bureaus

The agency provides end of life services for people of all ages in Eastern Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley. Services include in-home hospice care and a speakers bureau on end of life issues, and medical-based hospice services. Hospice care is restricted to residents of Eastern Los Angeles County, bounded by the 710 Freeway on the West, the 210 Freeway on the North, the 57 Freeway on the East, and the 405 Freeway on the South. The agency also serves communities in north Orange County. There are no geographic restrictions for other services.

To be eligible for the hospice program, a person must have been diagnosed as being terminally ill, with a period of six months or less to live. The person must request that he or she receive only palliative (comfort) care rather than therapies which are attempting to cure the illness. The program is based on the philosophy which concentrates on quality of life, not longevity. It helps an individual live the final phase of life comfortably and with dignity and control.

The program provides a personalized plan in consultation with the primary physician, the hospice team, and the patient. The services consist of physical, emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family, administered by a nurse, home health aide, dietician and other therapists. Each patient has a 24 hour on-call nurse.

Through the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier, families can request services from a support group for children,"I Count Too" for ages 5 to 17. See the hospital entry for details.

The agency also provides respite care in order to give the family and caregivers time to rest. A five bed CLIF (Congregate Living Licensed) home is available for current patients with acute need requiring 24 hour nursing care.

Public education provides a speakers bureau to promote public awareness of end-of-life issues, advance care planning, communicating with the dying and bereaved and benefits of hospice care for the terminally ill.