April Newsletter 2025 - Hospice of the Valleys

FROM HERE TO THERE... Join us for our monthly workshop, From Here to There, which covers topics focused on navigating the later years of life. January: Meet Your Hospice Team Let us introduce you to the interdisciplinary approach of hospice care. Meet our team that consists of a board-certified hospice and palliative care doctor, RN, social worker, spiritual care and home health aide. We'll answer your questions and share how we help. Friday, January 31st | 9:00-10:00 Hospice of the Valleys 25240 Hancock Avenue, Ste 120 Murrieta, CA 92562 Space is limited, Please RSVP by 1/26 to 951-200-7800 Co-Sponsored by: Visiting Angels.

Attention Veterans in need of VA Representative Services, MilVet, located at 33040 Antelope Rd #114 Murrieta, CA 92563, is a designated location for a County Veterans Service Officer.

Walk-in services are available every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 9am to 4pm. A County Representative provides assistance with veteran services such as filing for disability benefits, survivors' benefits, record requests, DIC, pensions, Aid and Attendance, home loans, education benefits, and more. There is no charge for this service.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY VA CERTIFIED CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES Compensation (service-related injuries or diseases) Re-open compensation for possible increase Dependency Indemnity Compensation (survivors annuity based upon service- connected death) Pension (for war-era veterans) Death Pension (for survivors of war-era veterans whose death was non- service connected) Dependent allowances Housebound and Aid and Attendance allowance State Veterans Home Request for military records and decorations Discharge upgrade and correction of military records Vocational Rehabilitation Home Loan Certificate of Eligibility Education benefits Life insurance (NSLI, SGLI, VGLI) Burial Benefits Referrals Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday From 9am - 4pm Walk-Ins Only MilVet (TM) 33040 Antelope Rd STE 114, Murrieta, CA 92563

Celebrating the Gifts of Hospice Volunteers Hospice of the Valleys Honors its Volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 20-26 The U.S. hospice movement was founded by dedicated volunteers and volunteers continue to be a foundation of hospice. Volunteers help form the Heart of Hospice. During National Volunteer Week organizations across the country are celebrating their service, the gifts of time and talent that individuals selflessly give to help others. This commitment especially valuable and heartfelt in hospice. They do so much for so many and our community is a better, more compassionate place because of their service. Join us in recognizing and thanking our volunteers for their incredible dedication to Hospice of the Valleys. We could not do our work without all of our amazing volunteers!

Spring Forward Mike Patton Bereavement Counselor/Spiritual Care My least favorite day of the year takes place in early spring, the day that daylight savings begins. The "spring forward" takes away one of my most valuable hours, messes with my routine, so to speak. My meticulous design for Sunday morning includes putting the final touches on the lesson I share with my church family, so it is like taking an hour away from a starting pitcher's pre- game routine! Are you feeling my pain? While I hope the above little hissy-fit brings up a chuckle, I also hope you will consider with me the impact the word "hospice" must have on patient's who hear it for the first time from their doctors. It may be a shocking revelation to some that their physical condition is on a collision course with death and that their routine may be "messed up." As a loved one who has processed that word with a couple of family members, but more often as a chaplain who has processed the emotional pain of our clients and their families, it is good for me to be kind and gentle toward those whose lives have been hit with the "spring forward" like news. Something that I have tried to keep in mind when sitting with someone who is processing the prognosis that fits hospice criteria is the window of opportunity they may have to finish well. I listen for clues about who or what give their life meaning and purpose and come back to them often. It is potentially a game-changer when people have a clear idea of what it means for them to finish well. When people articulate their goals for putting their affairs in order or for finding reconciliation with people, they have a much greater chance of dying peacefully, or as I like to say, landing softly. Spring is a nice time of year and eliminating one hour of it still does not sit well with me. However, I have learned to live with the "spring forward” time change and come to enjoy the other end of the day that is "lighter longer." Sometimes it is a matter of perspective, taking a step back and allowing for a bigger picture of what is taking place. A window of opportunity to prepare for the rest of life is better than dwelling in the regret of lost time.

April is National Stress Awareness Month - Your Health Matters Leslee B. Cochrane, MD Executive Medical Director April 15th is National Tax Day when we all must file and pay our income taxes. I find it ironic that April has been designated as National Stress Awareness Month. Could it be that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between these two? According to the American Institute of Stress, over 75% of Americans reported feeling at least one symptom of stress in the previous month and 51% of women and 32% of men reported that they laid awake at night in the previous month due to stress. Medical problems ranging from headaches to heart attacks and depression are known to be worsened by stress. Because no one can eliminate stress, it is essential to have a proactive plan to help manage stress. Below are ten side- effect-free stress relievers that you may find helpful: 1. Exercise - Regular exercise is very effective in managing stress, while also helping to control your weight and boost your immune system. 2. Laughter- Laughing helps to reduce stress and has also been shown to boost endorphins which are substances that enhance your sense of well-being and help to boost your immune system. 3. Sleep-When you are under stress, having a good night of sleep and taking short naps during the day can help recharge your batteries and better prepare you to face the challenges of the day. 4. Connect with friends - Turn off the TV and put down your phone and instead spend some quality with family or friends. 5. Just say "no" - Learn the art of gracefully saying “no”. Sometimes we stress out because we have overcommitted and are unable to keep pace with our unrealistic expectations. 6. Enhance your mind/body connection- Several forms of exercise, like Yoga and Tai Chi, have been used for centuries to improve the mind-body balance and reduce stress. 7. Prayer, gratitude, and meditation - Spend daily time in prayer, gratitude, and meditation about those things in life that are most important and most inspirational to you. 8. Journaling - Writing your thoughts in a journal and life review can sometimes put a new perspective on your situation and help you better understand and manage your stress. 9. Music-Listening to music can reduce stress. 10. Counselling. - Supportive therapy with your spiritual advisor or a trained counselor can be very helpful in addressing stress and other mental health issues including depression and anxiety. For over 40 years, Hospice of the Valleys has been helping patients and their families who face the stress of life- limiting conditions. If you or someone you love is experiencing stress due to a medical condition, please feel free to give us a call at 951-200-7800 to find out how we may be able to help you.