Providence Hospice Patient, a U.S. Army Veteran, Honored in Video for Veterans Day and in Recognition of National Home Care and Hospice Month

SEATTLE, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hogan was a proud U.S. Army veteran who served toward the end of WWII in the South Pacific. He lived to tell about the lively homecoming he experienced as the ship he rode plowed under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

As he sat dying of cancer in his Seattle home at age 92, stories about his time in the Army were among his most vivid memories. He told them well. The fact that he was a veteran was honored by his caregivers at Providence Hospice & Palliative Care, who not only provided the nursing care John needed, but also listened to him talk about his time in the Army and acknowledged his service.

November is a special month for John's family in two ways. First, it's National Home Care and Hospice Month. Second, it's the month that our nation celebrates Veterans Day. During this year's National Home Care and Hospice Month, Providence Hospice and Palliative Care is also moving forward with its We Honor Veterans program, which offers end-of-life care designed specifically for veterans.

John talks about his time serving his country – and the hospice care he received - in a video released in honor of National Home Care and Hospice Month and Veterans Day on the Providence website at http://www2.providence.org/senior-community-services/hospice-palliative-care/Pages/War-Veteran-Reflects-on-Life.aspx and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/ProvidenceWashington.

Viewers can watch John talk about his hospice journey and learn about the services provided by Providence Hospice & Palliative Care, a division of Providence Senior and Community Services. Viewers will hear about the benefits hospice care provides and how it helps patients live the last days, weeks and months of their lives fully supported by a team of professionals that includes nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, volunteers and – if requested – chaplains.

John didn't know anything about hospice care when he was diagnosed with cancer in May and his doctor offered him a choice: "Two options – medical, chemo and the rest of the stuff," said John, who was chipping golf balls in his backyard until he was suddenly diagnosed. "I said, `no, I don't want that. I want this one - to live normally, live comfortably, have the nurse come in and that's the way I want to go." And that's how it happened. John died at home on Aug. 30, 2011.

Along the way John reflected on the care he received. "Gee, it's a good program. I would tell anybody before they go to their maker to take a trip through hospice first."

Providence Senior and Community Services Chief Executive Robert Hellrigel notes that many people think hospice care is about dying. "But at Providence, hospice is a celebration of life. It is about helping people live life to the fullest every day they are in this world," he said. "In our country, too many people die in hospitals every day, clinging to technology and surrounded by strangers. We believe the end of life should be as celebrated and as sacred as birth.

"We hope these videos of our patients sharing their stories will help increase awareness of how hospice can help make that happen," he said.

This is the third hospice patient video released by Providence Hospice & Palliative Care. The first, featuring patient Harvey Mehlhaff, can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne80T8KPCN0.  The second, featuring patient David Hitchens, can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEBYyH89eMk. Providence Hospice & Palliative Care plans to produce more videos in the future.

About Providence Hospice & Palliative Care: Providence Hospice & Palliative Care provides care to patients with advanced illness and their families throughout Western Washington. For more information about services and locations, please visit www.ProvidenceHospiceWashington.org.

SOURCE Providence Hospice & Palliative Care