Hospice Program Provides Support
Brown & Toland has developed a hospice program to raise awareness of the benefits of hospice and to help patients and their families better understand hospice’s holistic model of care when appropriate, during end-of-life care planning.
“Hospice is often a misunderstood and potentially frightening concept for many because it is associated with end-of-life,” said Susan Huang, M.D., medical director at Brown & Toland. “But many do not understand the benefits of hospice and how it can help patients and families.”
Dr. Huang noted that one of the biggest myths with hospice is a sense of “giving up” and that hospice may be seen as a final surrender. “Instead, hospice is a way for patients, families, and medical providers to focus on and prioritize the values and care goals of the patient and family when faced with terminal illness. It is specialized care and one of the only care models that supports not only patients but also their families throughout a very difficult time.”
Dr. Huang added that hospice’s emphasis is on quality of life, pain management, spiritual support, caregiving aid, social services and bereavement counseling.
Resources
Area Hospice Service Agencies
Asian Network Pacific Home Care & Hospice (Seven Asian languages served)
San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa counties
San Francisco Phone: 415.345.9797
Oakland Phone: 510.268.1118
Crossroads Home Health and Hospice
San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa counties
Intake Phone: 415.293.7021
San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Napa, Sonoma counties
Intake Phone: 888.720.2111
Kindred Hospice (Gentiva)
(Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa counties)
Phone: 925.737.0203
Additional Resources
For families, an online education video for decision support on goals of care for advanced dementia patients.