TITUSVILLE, Fla. —
New Program will Offer Assistance with Advanced Directives
Parrish Medical Center’s Palliative Care program recently was awarded a $6,000 grant from the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation.
The grant will be used to provide community education about living wills and other advance directives through a program called Fearless Cafe’.
“These funds will allow us to offer the popular Aging with Dignity Five Wishes® resource at no cost to the community as part of our planned Fearless Cafe community discussions,” said Terry Donovan, RN, MSN, PMC’s palliative care coordinator.
“An important part of palliative care is helping people with serious or chronic illness understand what they will face and how they can direct the way they want to be cared for,” said Donovan.
Palliative care helps people with serious and chronic illnesses such as cancer, cardiac disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney failure, and many more. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of their illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for patients and their families.
“As a local elder care and estate-planning attorney, I understand the benefits of talking with your family early about these important decisions. It will give you peace of mind knowing you are prepared for what the future holds. The JPMF community grants committee was pleased to provide this grant for such an important cause,” said Jerry Allender, JPMF community grants chairman.
Introduced by Aging with Dignity, Five Wishes has become one of the most popular living will educational programs in the U.S. Healthcare professionals will facilitate the Fearless Cafés, and Five Wishes advance directives workbooks will be provided to all attendees and their families.
Dates and times of the Fearless Cafes are currently being planned and will soon be announced. For further information visit www.prshmd.com/fivewishes or contact PMC’s palliative care coordinator at 321-268-6675.