August Newsletter 2025 - Hospice of the Valleys

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August 2025

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We're moving offices! 41391 Kalmia St. Suite 300 Murrieta, CA 92562

Community Events City of Temecula is hosting the Health & Preparedness Expo Saturday, September 27 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Civic Center Quad 41000 Main St. Temecula, CA 92590

Notes from Friends Hospice of the Valleys serves hundreds of patients every year. We honor them by sharing their stories. They remind us every day of the meaning and purpose of our work and that human connection is at the heart of the hospice experience. The following are notes Hospice of the Valleys has received from the families of patients that we have been privileged to provide hospice care. "You and your expertly trained, intuitive nurses saved my dying wife from her expected decline. She lived a miraculous year and 4 months that was all because of the care and knowledge you provided. It was a blessing for me, and of course for her, as her mental clarity returned." "Thank you for the love and care you provided my husband."

Celebrate the Heart of Volunteering Become a Hospice Volunteer Hospice is about family and community... And volunteers bring heart to hospice. Our team always had the need for volunteers in patient support, music, veteran to veteran support, fundraising, administrative support and more. Hold a Hand-Give a Hug-Touch a Heart. Becoming a hospice volunteers is a meaningful and rewarding experience. You can make a difference! *Seeking bi-lingual volunteers for patient support and music* Hospice of the Valleys: Canyon Lake, Fallbrook, Hemet, Homeland, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Nuevo, Perris, Quail Valley, Romoland, San Jacinto, Sun City, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester Please contact Chrisy Lawless, Volunteer Manager 951-200-7800 or CLawless@hovsc.org for more information. You may also refer to our website page HospiceoftheValleys.org for new training updates.

Seeking Fundraising Volunteers - You can make a difference - Outgoing and Self-Motivated - Detail-Oriented and Good organization skills - Ability to Interact Positively with Guests and a Team. If this sounds like you, we'd love to talk with you about how you can help! Please contact: Chrisy Lawless 951-200-7800 | CLawless@Hovsc.org

Please remember Hospice of the Valleys in your trust or will. And, help us now with your kind donation. DONATE to Hospice of the Valleys Hospice of the Valleys is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Hospice of the Valleys complies with applicable Federal and civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Atención: si habla espanol, Tiene a su disposicion servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingufstica. Llame al 1-951-200-7800 (TDD: 711). 注意:如果您使用繁體中文, 您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-951-200-7800 (TDD: 711).

DON'T BE LATE, FOR a VERY IMPORTANT DATE! Join us for the 27th annual WINE AND CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER: AN EVENING IN WONDERLAND BENEFITTING THE PATIENTS & FAMILIES OF HOSPICE OF THE VALLEYS SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 5:30 PM til 10:00 PM TICKETS $120 TEA PARTY ATTIRE, If you DARE 951.821.1508 Monteleone Meadows 35245 Briggs Rd Murrieta 92563

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING SPONSORS 2nd District - Karen Spiegel 3rd District Chuck Washington Abbott Above & Beyond Beauty Best, Best & Krieger Drs. Stephen Ryder & Nikki Helm EBS Escrow Edward Jones Employers Resource England Family Mortuary Evans Brown Mortuary Gosch Ford Temecula Horizon Oxygen Jennifer Hultquist, Realtor Lawyer in Blue Jeans Murrieta Valley Funeral Home Nautica Wealth Advisors Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac Riptide Systems SRCAR Sundt Tate Parker Temecula Valley Toyota Visiting Angels Whitaker Facilities

Volunteer Corner Thank you to all of our extraordinary volunteers, your support means the world to us. You are truly a blessing to us all!

Signs of Strokes - SOS! Leslee B. Cochrane, MD. Executive Medical Director Although SOS does not actually stand for "Signs of Strokes"; it is an international code indicating extreme distress and so it seems fitting to use it in reference to strokes. Most people are unaware about the connection between strokes and dementia. Alzheimer's disease is recognized as the leading cause of dementia in the US; but vascular dementia (frequently caused by strokes) is the second leading cause of dementia, accounting for 15-20% of all dementia cases. The underlying cause of strokes is cerebrovascular disease which is a disease affecting the blood vessels in the brain. The term TIA stands for "transient ischemic attack" and refers to a condition in which the blood flow to a portion of the brain is temporarily blocked. TIA's are sometimes referred to as "mini-strokes" because they produce similar symptoms of a stroke; but they are typically smaller and "transient" with most resolving within 1-2 hours. Unlike a stroke where the blockage is permanent, a TIA is caused by a temporary blockage in the smaller s blood vessels and there is less permanent residual damage than that caused by a stroke. Here are some common signs of strokes and TIAS to be aware of: - Weakness, numbness or tingling (usually affecting one side of the body) - Confusion, loss of coordination or balance - Difficulty speaking or swallowing - Sudden loss or blurring of vision Ignoring the signs of a stroke or TIA may lead to permanent neurological damage and could result in death. It should be noted that 10% of patients who have a TIA will later go on to have a stroke within three months. Half of those who have a stroke will have the stroke within 48 hours of the TIA. The most common cause of a TIA is a blood clot that blocks the blood vessel and prevents the vital delivery of oxygen to the brain cells. There are several risk factors for TIA's and strokes including high blood pressure, smoking. diabetes, obesity and elevated cholesterol. Because it is impossible to distinguish a TIA from a stroke at the onset, you should always seek urgent medical attention at the onset of any of the above symptoms. If caught in the early stages, there are treatments available which can reduce the devastating impact of a stroke; but the best strategy is to reduce your risk and thereby prevent the chances of ever having a stroke. Small vessel cerebrovascular disease is a common condition in patients with the above risk factors and may result in functional and cognitive decline including vascular dementia. Patients at increased risk of stroke should consult their health care provider to learn about stroke prevention including diet and exercise. It is also important to discuss treatment options to reduce their risk further by treating conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol and obesity. When it comes to strokes the old saying is true: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." By recognizing the risk factors of strokes and taking action you can dramatically reduce your risk of stroke.: Conditions That Can Cause Stroke-Like Symptoms Seizures Migraine headaches Dizziness Bell's Palsy Trigeminal neuralgia Neuropathy

Confident Humility Mike Patton Bereavement Counselor/Spiritual Care An image has become very personal for me over my many years of pastoral service. I wish I could say it came from one of the Masters, but it came from Gary Larson's Far Side catalog. The image is of a man, pushing a wheelbarrow while working in the flames of hell. He appears to be quite content, pushing a load of coal through the flames, whistling while he works. The demon overseers provide the commentary, "You know, we're just not reaching that guy." It has become a self-effacing joke that I have told from the pulpit and in front of crowds, whenever it seems appropriate. I share it here to offer a perspective on confident humility. While I poke fun at myself for the "zippity-doo-dah" approach I often take in the midst of challenging circumstances, it is the idea of contentment that best describes my heart and devotion to the work to which I've been called. We are not all called to sit with dying people and their families, finding ways to support each one as they face the end of life concerns, challenges and decisions. The work I get to do as a chaplain and bereavement counselor give me reason to whistle a happy tune every day, and I know that this work is not for everyone. Nevertheless, we all live in community with one another in a world that often seems to be run by... demons! Confidence comes from a heart set and mind fixed on a mission. Our mission at Hospice of the Valleys speaks loudly to my heart, "We foster reverence for life, relief of suffering, and compassion in loss for the terminally ill residents and their families in the communities we serve." From the day I began my service as a chaplain in this organization, my heart aligns with this mission. Everyone I work with has the same mission. Humility is an honest assessment of gifts and abilities, strengths and weaknesses, accepting both responsibility for and limitations to ones involvement in the mission. Obviously, chaplains do not offer medical advice, that would be tragic! However, when I am working in my lane of responsibility, I provide the best care I know how to give, and believe that it contributes to the well-being of the patients and families we serve. I hope that your "image" comes from something other than a Far Side comic. But I also hope that you have what I have in terms of confident humility to serve with joy and contentment in whatever mission you're called to, under whatever circumstances you find yourself. Grab your wheelbarrow... and let's go!

Hiring Nurses We're hiring Nurses! If you're looking for a career that is as rewarding professional as it is personally, look no further. We offer positions for nurses who will have 24/8 access to a medical director with only a 12-patient caseload. Providing an excellent work/life balance, Hospice of the Valleys is a 5-star hospice and the recipient of the Inland Empire Top Workplace from 2014-2023.

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