Hospice of Southern Kentucky is proud to announce the 2010 Hospice Chocolate Festival on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 from 2-5pm at the Sloan Convention Center.  Please join us for this event that raises funds for end of life care in South Central Kentucky.  Last year hundreds of people enjoyed chocolate cheesecake, cookies, brownies, fudge, candy and many more treats provided by thirty six restaurants, caterers, and food services.  There is also a silent auction with lots of great prize packages to bid on, including art, antiques, jewelry, sporting events, an I Love WKU package, and excursions all over Kentucky.  New in 2009 was the Celebrity Cookie Eating Contest with Tony Rose of Sam 100.7, who consumed 19 Oreos in 2 minutes. 

Hospice has expanded its services in the last several years to include a children’s grief camp, a ten bed Hospice residential care center, and a Transitions program.  Hospice uses an interdisciplinary team of health care professionals and trained volunteers to provide pain-management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families, coping with life-limiting illness.

“Most people think hospice is what you do when there’s nothing left to do,” commented J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of NHPCO. “That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Hospice provides a wide range of services to the family and patient that maximize quality of life and help people live as fully as possible, on their terms.”  NHPCO reports that one million patients were served by the nation’s 3,300 hospice providers last year. Hospices helped these people live with dignity, comfort, and compassion.  Hospice is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid in most states, and most private insurance plans and HMOs.

    “Everyone can eat for a good cause,” remarked Betty Biggerstaff, Executive Director, “Far too many people wait until they are facing a health crisis to learn about care options. Along with the sweet treats, we will have information available for those who are wondering about their options and what our services can do for them.  The best time to learn about end-of-life care is before you have a crisis.”   More information about hospice and palliative care can be found at www.hospicesoky.org or by calling Hospice of Southern Kentucky at 800-344-9479.