About The Community Coalition for End of Life Care
Who we are:
We are a working group of health care providers, administrators, educators and representatives from the law, arts and religious communities trying to improve how we, as a community, care for those near the end of their lives.
Our Mission:
The Community Coalition for End of Life Care promotes healing, comfort and affirmation near the end of life for all. Through collaborative efforts the Coalition shall advance awareness, responsiveness and access to care.
Our shared vision:
- Any individual who asks for support and guidance at the end of life will find easy access.
- Care will be delivered in partnership with the entire community of professionals and volunteers.
- Professionals and volunteers will have the training needed to assist individuals, families and caregivers at the end of life.
- Our communities will understand that death is a natural part of life.
- End of life will be recognized as an opportunity for spiritual growth.
- Individuals and families will find healing, comfort and affirmation at the end of life.
Our immediate goals:
To bring together a greater community understanding of end of care issues and how to access end of life care, starting with renewed education efforts focused on our medical community.
Our long range goals:
Our Coalition will also be focused on educating the community about the services that are presently available, improving linkages and coordination between agencies, developing tools and potentially additional services to promote quality care, and creating cultural and social awareness related to the needs of this population.
Our structure:
Our Coalition has been meeting once per month. Meetings are co-facilitated
by Phil Lawson, MD and Inga Johnson, MS. We have had good attendance by a
number of area providers and individuals. We hope to increase membership to
include representation of health care providers, administrators, educators
and representatives from the law, arts and religious communities. We are hoping
to add interested members from the community at large. We also have several
work groups: arts and humanities group, the community education group, the
professional development group, the intergenerational group, the faith and
spiritual outreach and education group and the marketing and program development
group.
Current membership:
At present, our members include: Roxie Severance, Morrison Nursing Home; Gail
Jurasek, Inga Johnson, Holly Lakey & Martha Reed, North Country Home Health
and Hospice Agency; Mary Bates & Phil Lawson, Ammonoosuc Community Health
Services, Tony Poekert, New Hampshire Catholic Charities; Sue Buteau, UNH
Cooperative Extension Service; Marlene May, Hospice Volunteer; Mike Scanlon,
ARNP; Mike Willets, Genesis Eldercare Center- Franconia; Mell Brooks, Riverglen
House; Alice Muh, North Country Health Consortium; Maggie Davis, Carolyn Walko,
Marsha Dickerman & Maggie Davis, Littleton Regional Hospital; Dr. Kathleen
Smith.
To learn more:
If you are interested in joining our Coalition, or for more information, please contact Phil Lawson, MD, at Ammonoosuc Community Health Services (444-2464) or Inga Johnson, Director of Hospice and Palliative Care Services at North Country Home Health and Hospice Agency (444-5317)
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