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Horizon Hospice
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 15, 2003
12:21 PM
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CONTACT:
Horizon
Hospice
Michelle Weber 312-751-0147 ext. 226
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Chicago's First Hospice Celebrates Twenty-Five
Years of Caring for People at the End of Life and Their Families
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| CHICAGO
- April 15 - As Horizon Hospice celebrates its 25th anniversary
this month, its growth signals the ever-increasing acceptance
of hospice in this country and its own success as one of the leading
hospices in the region. Established in 1978 by four volunteers
with one part-time employee and a single patient, Horizon has
grown to an organization with a staff of 55 professionals and
100 volunteers, serving 600 -- 700 families each year throughout
Chicago.
"I am proud
to have started something so important to the families of this
city. I can tell that our hard work has not gone unnoticed," reflects
Ada Addingon, founder and board member of Horizon Hospice. Beyond
its impressive growth, Horizon has become a leader with such milestones
as being:
-- one of the
first hospices to take AIDS patients: When the AIDS epidemic struck
Chicago in the mid-80s, Horizon stepped forward to help and soon
became the provider of choice for patients and families. In the
early 90s Horizon contracted with three AIDS residences including
Chicago House, a residence for dying AIDS patients;
-- one of the
first to accept pediatric cases: When 22 other area hospices refused
to care for a child dying of cancer because the case was so complicated
and costly, Horizon became one of the first hospice programs to
accept pediatric cases;
Today, Horizon
Hospice's mark of success is illustrated by its ability to help
more than 95 percent of its patients remain at home whether it's
a private residence (80 percent) or nursing home (15 percent),
and 95 percent of patients to be free of pain and other symptoms.
"Our success is a direct result of our intense focus on staff
in-services and volunteer education," says Horizon Hospice president
Michael Preodor, MD.
Horizon is
leading the hospice movement in educating not only the professional
healthcare community, but also their own staff and volunteer corps
with programs that address challenging cases -- from treating
a particularly troublesome symptom to responding to the psychosocial
needs of a very troubled family.
"While we are
strong on the professional side, there is still a lot of work
to be done on the patient side. Our biggest challenge is that
people don't want to talk about death and they need to communicate
their preferences so their families and caregivers can better
understand their wishes," added Dr. Preodor.
Horizon Hospice,
Chicago's first hospice, was established in 1978 by four volunteers
dedicated to providing comfort and preserving dignity for the
dying. Horizon now cares for 600-700 terminally ill patients and
their families throughout the Chicago area annually. Hospice care
provides the medical, emotional and spiritual support needed to
relieve pain and promote peace at the end of life.
Some Unhappy
Times...Tips for Coping During Tough Times
Chicago-Our
country is grieving for lost lives overseas. At home tough economic
times leave many in despair. "With all of this bad news, it is
likely that many of us are walking around feeling a bit depressed.
It helps to intentionally practice being patient with yourself,"
says bereavement coordinator Karen Horinek.
Tips On Getting
Through These Tough Times:
-- Get real.
Be realistic about what you expect to accomplish each day. --
Be aware but be careful with how much news you take in. Pick a
time to listen or read a summary of the day's news. -- Identify
people with whom you can share your feelings and concerns. --
Make yourself available to those who have family and friends in
the service even if your political views don't match. -- Take
care of yourself. Do something fun to take your mind off of the
things that are troubling you. Be sure to exercise, eat well and
rest. -- Be active in the cause. Chicagoans are making an effort
to support our troops with tying yellow ribbons and sending CARE
packages.
Horizon
Hospice has grief support groups open to the community throughout
the year and offers a 12-week program of one-on-one grief counseling.
For more information, contact Horizon Hospice at 312-733-2233
or http://www.horizonhospice.org.
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