Hospice newsletter helps educate

Mulford says that people are often reluctant to talk about dying. "It's not part of our culture. What will dying be like? What can I say to a friend who just lost her husband? How can I talk to my children about my wishes?"

"We updated our newsletter to help people with these types of questions. The newsletter is friendlier -- more inviting than in the past -- in hopes that people will actually want to pick it up and read it."

"Barney Ross, the lead story, is one example of how the newsletter educates. It will not only make people feel good when they read it, it shows how some people are able to handle death with humor and grace."

Hospice of The Gorge has been publishing a newsletter for almost 20 years, but now, more than ever, there's a need to educate people about end-of-life issues. For instance, recent statistics published by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association show that people seeking hospice care grew from 450,000 nationwide in 1996 to 1.3 million in 2006.

"We expect that number to continue to grow as the baby boomers advance towards old age," says Mulford. "We need to do whatever we can to prepare more people to address tough questions about quality of life up to the time of death. Publishing an educationally-oriented newsletter that people will read, will help."

Changes to the newsletter include an emphasis on educational content including patient and family stories that give first-hand accounts of what the process of dying is like. The look and feel has also been updated with a move toward a more modern layout, lots of pictures, and the use of full color throughout.