Many believe that the Jewish injunction to "choose life" means not giving up — ever. We all die. Death is a part of life — the last part. Choosing Hospice is not giving up. It is a dignified way to maintain control of how comfortably we live until our end. Naturally, we hope that end-of-life can be eased, particularly in the case of painful, life-limiting illness.

The truth about Hospice is:

• You can stay at home in familiar surroundings with Hospice care
• It is possible to receive Hospice care for more than six months
• You do not have to stop taking all your medications as a Hospice patient
• You can maintain contact with your attending physician when receiving Hospice care
• Hospice does NOT hasten death
• Home Hospice is fully reimbursable by Medicare and most private insurance companies
• Hospice is a personalized service provided by a compassionate team of healthcare professionals including registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, a rabbi, a physician, and trained volunteers
• Hospice does NOT mean giving up hope; rather, it means commitment to maximum quality of life
• Weinstein Hospice enhances the quality of life in a manner consistent with Jewish values

Hospice is a concept of caring that brings comfort and support into the home for people in the final stages of terminal illness and their families . One of the major frustrations at Weinstein Hospice is that so many patients come in the last few days of their lives, when they could have had pain relief and the warmth and care of trained volunteers and professionals ease their last months. More time is essential to build trust and confidence with the Hospice team during this intimate end-of-life passage to maximize the benefits that Hospice offers.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with a painful or life-limiting illness, please feel free to call Weinstein Hospice for more information; (404) 352-4308. If Hospice is not the right answer for your care needs, an Admission Coordinator will direct you to the appropriate agency for additional assistance.

The Weinstein Hospice is a program of William Breman Jewish Home, one of Federation's local beneficiary agencies. The William Breman Jewish Home received an allocation of $726,752 in FY03.