Waldron’s Business Salute honors Elizabeth Hospice; loving and compassionate care

Note: Each month Marie Waldron recognizes a business in the communi­ty for outstanding service. This month she recognized the Elizabeth Hospice.

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This month I would like to salute The Elizabeth Hospice, an outstand­ing organization dedicated to provid­ing compassionate care for patients and their families in this region for 38 years.

We usually don’t like to talk, or even think, about end-of-life issues. But when the time comes, the caring peo­ple at The Elizabeth Hospice, with of­fices located in Escondido, Temecula and Carlsbad, are there to enhance the quality of life for those nearing life’s end, and for their grieving loved ones. At The Elizabeth Hospice, patients are able to live out their lives in comfort and dignity, surrounded by family and friends and supported by expert medi­cal care that focuses on their emotional and spiritual needs.

Since 1978, The Elizabeth Hos­pice, the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider for children and adults in San Diego County, has touched the lives of more than 90,000 patients and families. In addition to caring for their patients, services for bereaved families include individual counseling, grief support services, and the annual Children’s Bereavement Program at Camp Erin San Diego for children 6-17 who have lost a loved-one.

The Elizabeth Hospice has also partnered with the national We Hon­or Veterans program, sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in partnership with the Department of Veterans Af­fairs. A Level 4 Partner – the highest distinction available — The Elizabeth Hospice provides special recognition through Veterans Pinning Ceremonies at veteran events and in long-term care facilities. In addition, the Veterans-to- Veterans Volunteer program matches veteran volunteers with veteran pa­tients to provide intermittent support and companionship.

As a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organiza­tion, The Elizabeth Hospice relies on charitable contributions to ensure the needs of all seeking support can be met. Thanks to ongoing public sup­port, no hospice-eligible patient has ever been turned away because of lim­ited financial resources.

By enhancing the quality of life for those nearing the end of life’s journey, The Elizabeth Hospice has earned the trust of this region. I am proud to salute The Elizabeth Hospice for their ongo­ing efforts to provide loving, compas­sionate care for their patients and their families.