End-of-Life Education and Training
WHHF provides medical education and training in palliative treatment, hospice and end-of-life care for medical, allied health and human service professionals and support staff. The program for physicians is training Osteopathic Medicine interns in the essential clinical competencies required to provide quality palliative treatment and end-of-life care regardless of their eventual medical profession destination. This program provides clinical rotation opportunities for third and fourth year students in this rapidly expanding subspecialty. Furthermore, the training program includes additional clinical experience for interns in Family Medicine. The curriculum that we have adapted is based on the Education for Physicians on End-of-Life Care (EPEC) Modules.
This training program is expanding on Wells House Hospice Program (WHHP) as a training site for interns in Osteopathic Medicine, nursing and social work. Having Affiliation Agreements with the Western University of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP); California State University, Long Beach, Department of Social Work; and the Nursing Programs at Cerritos College and Long Beach City College; WHHF provides clinical rotations for interns on-site at WHHP, in skilled nursing facilities and in patient’s homes in the Long Beach region. The rotations are augmented by concentrating on core topic areas and training formats including self-study guides and resources; lectures; workshops and seminars.
WHHF and its affiliate educational institutions are addressing the need for medical and allied health practitioners with core skills in palliative treatment, hospice and end-of-life care as a concomitant part of their training. WHHF is requiring communication between all of the end-of-life disciplines. Provided with the core competencies and skills needed to care for terminally ill patients, these interns are members of The Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDT) at WHHP and attend and participate in the weekly meetings. To assist in resolving many of the most widely held fears about the end of life, we have developed interdisciplinary continuing education workshops and seminars to “introduce hospice and palliative care to all medical, allied health and human service professionals in the Long Beach region.
Underserved and Uninsured Population
Wells House Hospice Foundation (WHHF) is pleased to announce the availability of palliative treatment, hospice and end-of-life care for the terminally-ill homeless population in Long Beach. The objective of this project is to provide compassionate care and services at Wells House Hospice Program (WHHP). In addition to being homeless, this sub-population of the homeless frequently has multiple disease diagnoses, one disease process that is terminal, and may be chemically dependent. They have less access to care than other groups and have a lower rate of survival. Once they have been recognized in the system, they are likely to be at an advance stage of the terminal disease, prognosis is poor and treatment options are limited.
Funded by the City of Long Beach and private donors, the goals of this project are to reduce the incidence of homelessness among the terminally-ill; maintain a home-like environment where residents can approach the end-of-life with peace, comfort and dignity; and provide a range of palliative treatment, hospice and end-of-life care. The major outcome will be maintaining the residents as free of pain and as comfortable as possible so that they can approach the time that remains for them with dignity.
WHHP has a history of admitting “hard to place” underserved patients who have been turned away from other skilled nursing facilities and other hospice programs. WHHP provides palliative care with a strong emphasis on pain management and increasing the comfort of the patient and family members as much as possible during the final stages of life.
For information on program participation requirements please contact the Wells House Hospice Program Admissions Coordinator at Toll Free (888) 280.9443
Removal of Barriers to HIV/AIDS Care: Residential Hospice and Nursing Services
WHHF and WHHP are providing residential hospice and nursing services for HIV/AIDS clients of the Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP), County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services. This program is for indigent persons who have been diagnosed as having AIDS or symptomatic HIV disease by a State licensed physician, approved by the OAPP Medical Doctor, and who resides within Los Angeles County.
WHHP has a history of admitting “hard to place” underserved patients who have been turned away from other skilled nursing facilities and other hospice programs. WHHP provides palliative care with strong emphasis on pain management and increasing the comfort of the patient and family members as much as possible during the final stages of life.
Community Outreach
The Foundation collaborates with professional associations of the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team and other affiliate groups to host seminars, workshops and discussions of special interest to medical, allied health and human service professionals in the Long Beach Community. The goals of community outreach are to improve quality care by providing a forum for sharing interdisciplinary knowledge and training on end-of-life care; augment the support, development and preparation of medical, allied health and human service professional who care for patients, families and their circle of friend at the end of life; and to increase public awareness of and access to end of life care in Southern California. Featuring outstanding speakers and presenters on various interdisciplinary topics in palliative treatment and end-of-life care, this program is sponsored by grants and donations.
Gifts that Keep on Giving
FAMILY REFLECTIONS
Family Reflections was created to assist patients in communicating messages of comfort, reassurance and lifetime memories to their families/significant others and friends. An audio recording of patients desiring this service is made and can include a book of photos, memorabilia, quotes and other “reflections.” It may include family history; favorite life stories; things that have been learned about life; what wisdom to pass on; what they would most like others to know about them; and what the loved ones would most like to hear them say.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
For patients desiring these services, Wells House provides complementary and alternative therapies that support patients, families and caregivers. People of different cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds frequently have different views of health and healing and different patterns of use of health care services. People’s views and behavior also vary with their age, literacy and specific health conditions. In recognition of a wholeness orientation to health care delivery, complementary and alternative therapies involve all aspects of life-mind, body, spirit, and environment. WHHP provides aromatherapy, art therapy, massage therapy, music therapy and pet-assisted therapy. The goal of these therapies is to assist in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, apathy, loneliness and negative thinking and contribute to increasing the patient’s quality of life. Collaborating with professional groups and community based organizations like the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach and the Heart Touch Project in Los Angeles, we are providing these therapies at Wells House and at other skilled nursing facilities in the Long Beach region.
DONATIONS AND PLANNED GIVING
Volunteering to work with patients and their families, assist with fund raising activities or assisting in the Wells House office are some of the ways that community support for services is attained. Donations assist in closing the service gap in providing palliative treatment and end-of-life care to underserved populations in the Long Beach community. They can also be made in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone special. These donations provide the seminal support of the Foundations day-to-day operations. Donations to support specific programs are appreciated and are tax deductible.
Bequests to Wells House Hospice Foundation can be made through wills, living trusts, life insurance and retirement plans. Wells House Foundation can send additional information and advise that you consult with your attorney and/or financial advisor to help you make the best decision.
We thank all of you for your continuing partnership in assisting us to provide compassionate and high quality care
For more information please contact the Foundation at (562) 533-8879.
