Washington, D.C.—Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) is pleased to announce the launching of www.hospicefoundation.org - its redesigned and improved web site geared to health care consumers and professional caregivers. "We have redesigned our site with the consumer and caregiving audience in mind," said Jack Gordon, HFA Chairman and CEO. "We wanted to provide an Internet resource that meets an unmet need. Through this site, we are providing a gateway to the best information on hospice care for caregivers or anyone wanting more information about the concept of hospice and care at the end of life."
HFA's redesigned web site includes a new Caregiver's Corner for family caregivers and paid professional caregivers. The Caregiver's Corner offers reading suggestions, tips on end-of-life caregiving, stress tests, and other resources.
The site also provides visitors an opportunity to "Ask an Expert" and receive answers, via email, from hospice physician William Lamers, an authority on pain management and hospice care, or Kenneth Doka, a professor of gerontology who is known internationally for his work on grief and bereavement. Together, they provide advice and information on hospice care and grief unavailable elsewhere on the Internet.
Easier navigation and updated graphics make the site more appealing for the user. For example, site visitors can now view thumbnail images of the wide variety of HFA's publications - newsletters , books, educational materials and brochures - before ordering them online. Other highlights include:
•An End-of-Life Info Section that provides information on dying and what to expect as your loved one or patient is near death, after the death, and information on pain and patient comfort.
•A new and improved search engine that helps organize on end-of-life resources and literature.
•An opportunity to register for HFA's free e-newsletter, with the latest information on hospice care, provided monthly at no cost to subscribers.
"It's significant that we chose to launch the new HFA site in conjunction with National Hospice Month," said David Abrams, HFA president.. "This is HFA's way of recognizing the importance of hospice care and the critical roles of hospice caregivers."
The Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) is a nonprofit organization that provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care. HFA's website and other programs are premier sources of information on caregiving and end-of-life issues for consumers, healthcare professionals, and the media.
HFA produces an annual award-winning national teleconference on grief and publishes the companion book series, Living with Grief. HFA offers a range of other resources, both in print and audio format, that offer guidance and support for laypeople and professionals facing illness, death, and grief.
HFA is also the primary supporter of Hospice College of America, an on-line and home study program for clergy members, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals seeking further education in hospice care and bereavement.