October Newsletter 2026 - Hospice of the Valleys

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October 2026

"And I think that's one of the greatest gifts hospice has given me— the reminder that even in the hardest moments, the connections we make matter. Hospice of the Valleys has given me the opportunity to be part of something meaningful, to make those connections and to do work that truly matters." - Shayna Orr RN Case Manager Hospice of the Valleys Wine and Chocolate Rock the Yacht We are still gushing over how much fun we had at this year's Wine and Chocolate Rock the Yacht Soirée! We are so immensely grateful for the incredible support we've received from our sponsors, donors, vendors, and community members! Because of your generous contributions, we can continue to provide compassionate services to local hospice patients and their families. Take a look at the memories from our signature fundraiser! We can't wait to celebrate with you all next year! Special Thank You to Big Tom Photography!

We're So Close! Help us reach our end goal for our Nurses' Fund by joining the Heart of Hospice circle!

Raised: $73,621.50 of $100,000

JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE You can make a big impact with Hospice of the Valleys by supporting our 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 YOUR MONTHLY GIFT MAKES A Difference $10 - 'We Honor Veterans' Pinning for One Patient $25 - Comfort Supplies for Ten Patients $50 - Medication Copays for Ten Patients $100 - Clinical Staff Transportation to Four Patient Visits

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 am so happy with the care you are providing my resident at my board and care. Your entire team does an awesome job! Stellar!" "Thank you Julie and Dr. Cochrane. You took excellent care of my mother."

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

Volunteer Corner An enormous Thank You to our `Wine and Chocolate` volunteers! Thank you for your support and helping us make our annual fundraiser a great success!

Reducing Your Risk of Dementia Leslee B. Cochrane, MD Executive Medical Director Dementia is one of the greatest health concerns facing older adults. In 2026, more than 7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia. While age and genetics influence our risk, research increasingly shows that many factors affecting brain health are within our control. The good news is that it is never too early-or too late-to start protecting your brain. Protect Your Heart-and Your Brain What is good for your heart is generally good for your brain. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and stroke are all associated with increased dementia risk. Know your numbers and work with your physician to keep blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar under control. Eat a Brain-Healthy Diet A Mediterranean-style or DASH diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and fish while limiting highly processed foods, added sugars, saturated fats and excessive red or processed meats. These diets support cardiovascular health, which in turn supports brain health. There is currently insufficient evidence that supplements such as vitamin E, omega-3s or multivitamins prevent dementia. Keep Moving Regular physical activity improves cardiovascular health, blood pressure, blood sugar, mood and sleep-and is associated with lower dementia risk. Aim for approximately 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. Walking, swimming, gardening, dancing and golfing can all count. Protect Your Hearing and Vision Hearing loss and untreated vision loss are now recognized as potentially modifiable dementia risk factors. Regular hearing and eye examinations-and appropriate treatment when problems are identified-can help maintain communication, independence and social engagement. Stay Connected and Keep Learning Reading, learning new skills, playing games, volunteering and pursuing hobbies provide cognitive stimulation. Just as important, maintain meaningful relationships. Social isolation is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline. Don't Forget the Basics Don't smoke, limit excessive alcohol consumption, get adequate sleep, treat depression, protect your head from injury and take reasonable steps to reduce exposure to significant air pollution. The 2024 Lancet Commission identified 14 potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia, and the World Health Organization's 2026 guidelines estimate that as much as 45% of dementia risk at the population level may potentially be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable factors. We cannot control our age or all of our genetics, and healthy habits cannot guarantee that we will never develop dementia. But good habits can give our brains the best possible chance to remain healthy and functioning well for as many years as possible. Protect your heart. Keep moving. Eat well. Stay connected. Keep learning. Protect your senses-and remember it is never too late to start! Stage 1: No cognitive impairment - No signs of memory or thinking difficulties Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline - Slight changes in memory or thinking Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline - Noticeable memory or thinking problems Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline Significant difficulties with memory and thinking Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline - Serious memory and thinking challenges Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline - Major memory and thinking impairments Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline - Extreme memory and thinking loss

Service Doesn't End With the Uniform Military service affects entire families. At the end of life, loved ones may find themselves reflecting not only on a veteran's years of service, but also on the sacrifices, friendships, experiences, and memories that shaped their family's story. At Hospice of the Valleys, we are honored to care for veterans and their families during this meaningful and often emotional time. We recognize that a veteran's service is an important part of who they are, and we believe their stories deserve to be heard, honored, and remembered. As we prepare to recognize Veterans Day in November, we invite our community to take a moment to honor the veterans in their lives. Ask about their service. Listen to their stories. Thank them for the role they played in serving our country. For many veterans, being heard and remembered can be one of the greatest gifts we can offer. This Veterans Day, and every day, Hospice of the Valleys is grateful for those who served.

Colony Womens Golf Club The Colony Women's Golf Club raised a total of $4300 with their Charity Luncheon, which they donated to Michelle's Place Cancer Resource Center and Hospice of the Valleys. Special thanks to donations not only from CWGC members, but also from neighbors in the Colony. "Amber Berkey and Marilyn Watson joined us from Michelle's Place, and Gina O'Bryant and Kristi Necochea joined in from Hospice of the Valleys. The work they do touches patients, families, caregivers, and loved ones, helping them navigate some of life's most difficult moments. Every contribution we made represents more than a dollar amount. It represents an opportunity to provide support, ease a burden, offer comfort, and remind someone that they are not facing these challenges alone." -Suzanne Margolais-Johnson

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Carriers of Kindness Mike Patton Bereavement Counselor/Spiritual Care I recently read a NY Times bestseller that chronicled a year in the protagonist's retirement. He was 86 years old at the beginning of the year chronicled. He spent the year doing acts of kindness in a town where he had moved to carry out his plans that were so personal, creative, unobtrusive, subtle, unexpected, but transformative. I found myself thinking that he was a living example of the many New Testament authors' description of Jesus' way of living. The pleasure of reading and experiencing these tales rekindled my belief that kindness is a profoundly effective ingredient in the successful business of making a difference in people's lives. The protagonist, let's call him Theo, was very consistently himself, meaning that the quality of kindness had been growing in him and oozed naturally out in his human interactions. Interestingly, and I believe true to our real life experiences, kindness can be perceived as unnatural or even manipulative. Suspicion is a hurdle that an act of kindness is likely to have to clear. Pausing for explanation or clarification of good intentions may be demanded; so good eye contact along with good listening are key to clearing suspicions. The protagonist seemed to do this flawlessly. My encouragement to you, dear reader, is to find it in yourself to be a carrier of kindness. When confronted with difficult people and challenging circumstances, show up with calmness and confidence. That calmness is often all that is needed to redirect a conversation or confrontation. I love the wisdom of our triage director who teaches us, "When their voice goes up, mine goes down." I've heard it happen! It's a beautiful thing! Confidence in the good produced by kindness will serve as strength to endure the time it takes for the seeds of kindness to take root and grow. Sowing kindness in the garden of humanity may feel utterly useless or ineffective, but trust that kindness produces better results than the alternatives... anger, judgment, criticism. Anger can be tamed by kindness, judgment can be softened by kindness, and criticism can be made effective with kindness. Better relationships are harvested when seeds of kindness have been sown. I'm no Theo, but I will spend the rest of my life leaning into the truth that kindness makes a positive difference in people's lives. I want my relationships and all human interactions to be marked by kindness, and that will only happen if I intentionally choose to be a carrier of kindness.

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