December Newsletter 2025 - Hospice of the Valleys

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Wishing you Happy Holidays and a bright new year from the team at Hospice of the Valleys

We've moved! 41391 Kalmia St. Suite 300 Murrieta, CA 92562

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. "I have been most impressed with Hospice of the Valleys and the care it has continued to extend to me even a year after my wife's passing." "Thank you so much for making our mom's final months so comfortable. From the bottom of our hearts we send our deepest and sincere gratitude and appreciation." "I've recommended you to several people so that they can experience the level of care that you provided to my mom."

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).

Thank You for your Support on Giving Tuesday! #Giving Tuesday To donate before the end of the year, click below: Donate

Nurses Fund By supporting our new Nurses' Fund - a vital resource dedicated to strengthening the compassionate care our nurses provide every single day. Our nurses are truly the heart of our mission. They bring calm in the hardest moments, comfort at 2:00 AM, and guidance for families facing their most sacred goodbyes. When you support them, you support every patient and family who turns to us in their time of need. Your gift to the Nurses' Fund helps us: - Support and retain exceptional hospice nurses - Provide ongoing training and professional development Maintain low nurse caseloads that allow for more individualized, specialized care - Expand access to care for patients regardless of ability to pay - Whether you choose to give a one-time gift or a recurring monthly contribution, your support is an investment in compassionate end-of-life care for our community. And, as always, gifts made by December 31 may be tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us continue this sacred work.

You are invited to the 2025 Christmas Party and Toy Drive hosted by Senator Kelly Seyarto (32nd district) and MilVet Thursday, December 11 5:30 - 7:30 PM Milvet 33040 Antelope Rd, Suite 114, Murrieta Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit MilVet's holidays for Heroes program, providing Christmas gifts for children of military families! Toy donation not required for entry.

Volunteer Corner As the holidays approach and we prepare to ring in 2026, our heartfelt thanks goes out to our amazing volunteers! Thank you for making this time of the year brighter for us. We wish you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Tis the Season to be Jolly? Your Health Matters Leslee B. Cochrane, MD Executive Medical Director The holiday season is here, and despite the spirit of good cheer it brings, the darker days of winter can trigger a variety of adverse health-related issues for some people. Perhaps the most widely recognized disorder associated with the winter months is a type of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is triggered by a decrease in sun exposure, which typically occurs in late fall and winter. It is estimated that 4-6% of the general population may suffer from clinically significant SAD symptoms, and an additional 10-20% may experience mild symptoms. SAD is four times more common in women than in men and usually affects people older than 20. The condition appears to be directly related to the reduced sunlight of the winter months, and it is therefore not surprising that it is seven times more common in Washington State than in Florida. Common symptoms include feeling sad, loss of interest in activities, low energy and fatigue, excessive sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and increased appetite with cravings for carbohydrates and subsequent weight gain. Effective therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy, light therapy with prescription light devices, and, in some cases, the judicious use of antidepressant medications. Another perplexing condition related to the holiday season is what I affectionately refer to as "the battle of the bulge" that tends to appear around the waist during this time of year. People are more likely to gain weight in the fall and winter and then lose it in the spring and summer. Although there are no unifying theories to fully explain these seasonal variations, scientists have discovered that a lack of sun exposure affects several important hormones and neurotransmitters, which may help explain these adverse health effects. If you are experiencing any seasonally related health challenges, please talk with your doctor for further guidance. In addition to the treatments for SAD mentioned above, the lifestyle modifications below have been shown to improve overall health and help combat seasonal health conditions: 1. Exercise regularly - It releases endorphins, promotes wellness, and reduces stress. 2. Sleep well - Quality sleep strengthens and supports your immune system. 3. Avoid excessive exposure to blue light from cell phones, TVs, and LED lighting - Blue light can impair melatonin production, which in turn disrupts healthy sleep patterns. 4. Unplug from stress and connect with friends - It can do wonders for your mental and emotional well-being. I hope this information helps you enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Civil Bells Mike Patton Bereavement Counselor/Spiritual Care I know what you are thinking that I have lost my mind in the flurry of the season that "silver bells" is what I meant to write. It is true that I love that song for the timeless introduction to the holiday season. So let me explain my reasoning for the twist of terms. As my television preferences have aged, like a fine wine, I have become a bit of a PBS nerd. I enjoy hearing the thoughts of women and men who are well studied and honest, being interviewed by persons of equal intelligence and journalistic integrity. I have come to savor PBS when my body settles into the recliner after the work of the day is done... at least until my TV viewing must be shared. I was watching an episode of Firing Line with Margaret Hoover recently that replayed a 2020 interview she did with Dr. Robert George and Dr. Cornel West, two professors who teach a class together at Princeton University. They are from opposite sides of the political spectrum. Dr. George is a conservative legal scholar and Dr. West is a progressive philosopher and considers himself a non-Marxist socialist. Both men are public intellectuals. Both men are brilliantly articulate and able to defend their thoughts with clear and precise reasoning, and sharply disagree with each other. Both men are Christians and refer to one another as a beloved brother. Their recent book, Truth Matters, builds on the premise that civility in public discourse is a missing ingredient in our present day democracy. Their teaching together models this missing ingredient. They share that the love they have for one another allows them to discuss with honesty their opposing views and "disagree agreeably." In other words, their love allows for serious intellectual debate resulting in deeper solutions to serious human problems. This is refreshingly tasty... like fine chocolate! In our hospice work, we are committed to a non-judgmental interaction with our patients and their families. Our roles, from bathing to medicating to praying, keep their best interest in mind. We respectfully keep our personal opinions to ourselves. This is different from the civility that Drs. West and George are promoting, but it bears similar fruit because it is founded on the principle of love. The team of hospice professionals that I get to work with have exercised this civility consistently and professionally. Civility tolls through our work like "silver bells" reminds us of the joys of the season.

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