March Newsletter 2025 - Hospice of the Valleys

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Southwest Healthcare's Annual Women's Health Expo Thursday, March 27th 9:00 am - 1:30 pm Pechanga Report & Casino Summit Ballroom 45000 Pechanga Parkway Temecula, CA

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. "Thank you Dr. Cochrane, Melissa, and all the many nurses that spent so much time with my wife. You people really care. I can't say thank-you enough." "On behalf of my family and myself, I am writing to express our sincere gratitude for the compassionate and exceptional care provided by your nursing staff. From our first call when Rene guided us through the process to the last phone calls from Chaplin Mike, we have been thoroughly impressed."

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).

Spring Forward DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR Sunday, March 9, 2025, AT 2: 00 AM

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.

$How to Reduce the Risks and Costs of Prescription Medications Leslee B. Cochrane, MD Executive Medical Director The high price of prescription medications has become in increasing challenge over the past several years. During 2024 the overall price of prescription medications increased by 4.5% and that trend is expected to continue in 2025. On January 17, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a list of 15 medications they are working to lower the price of. Hopefully, the negotiations will be successful at reducing the cost of those 15 medications; but the high costs of prescription medications will remain an ongoing challenge. In addition to the negative impact prescription medications have on your wallet, there are also negative health consequences associated with the over-use of prescription medications. I have listed a few practical steps below which you can take to help reduce the risks and costs associated with prescription medications. • Avoid polypharmacy- Polypharmacy refers to taking multiple medications at the same time. Recent studies show that 90% of adults over age 65 take at least one prescription and 66% take 3 or more prescriptions each month. The danger of polypharmacy is very real with estimates that between 100,000 and 200,000 patients die each year due to adverse medication reactions. To help decrease the incidence of adverse mediation reactions, the American Geriatric Society has developed The Beer's List which contains about 100 medications which should be avoided in people over age 65 because their potential adverse side effects outweigh their benefits. One practical step you can take to decrease the risk and cost of the prescriptions you utilize is to maintain an up-to-date list of all of your medications and insist that your primary care physician and pharmacist review the list with you regularly to ensure that each and every medication is both safe and medically necessary. • Utilize generic medications- Generic medications are certified to have the same active ingredient as a brand name and are typically available at a fraction of the cost. For example, a 30-day supply of generic lisinopril 10 mg tablets costs about $4.00 per month whereas the brand name of the same medication, Zestril 10 mg tablets is $492.00 per month! • Don't cut corners, cut pills - You may be able to cut your prescription costs in half by using a pill splitter. Most medications cost the same price per pill without regard to the dosage. For example, if you are taking 10mg of Lisinopril, you could ask your doctor to order the 20 mg strength and use a pill cutter to split the pills in half. Not all medications can be cut or split, so be sure to consult with your physician and pharmacist. • Buy your meds in bulk- Many prescription plans offer significant discounts if you use purchase a 90-day supply vs. a 30-day supply. Additional discounts are often available if you use a mail order service approved by your insurance for additional savings. By implementing the practical steps outlined above it may be possible to reduce both the risks and costs associated with prescription medications. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any prescription medications that you are currently taking, please consult with your healthcare provider and pharmacist. To learn more about the Beer's list of medications best avoided in patients over the age of 65, you can use the link below: Click Here$