Hospice, Ann’s Place To Host Teleconference On Living With Grief

DANBURY — On Wednesday, March 24, from 1 to 5 pm, Regional Hospice and Ann’s Place will offer a professional teleconference, “Living With Grief: Cancer and End-of-Life Care.” The event will be hosted by Union Savings Bank at 126 North Street.

Each year the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) presents a nationally recognized distance learning program, live via satellite and webcast, to more than 125,000 people in 2,000 communities. This annual educational program has been instrumental in educating health care professionals on issues affecting end-of-life care.

This year “Cancer and End-of-Life Care” will focus on care options related to cancer diagnoses as well as loss and grief reactions for patients, families, and professional caregivers. The teleconference will also examine psychosocial aspects of cancer, pain management, and ethical issues related to the disease. Moderated by Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University, the program will be broadcast live.

Registration begins at 1 pm, and the program will be broadcast from 1:30 to 4 pm, with local panel discussion to follow.

Mr Sesno will lead the panel of noted authorities that includes Yvette Colón, director of education and support at American Pain Foundation; Malene Davis, president and CEO at Capital Hospice; Kenneth J. Doka, professor of gerontology at the College of New Rochelle; Richard Payne, director, Institute on Care at the End of Life, Duke University; Sherry R Schachter, director bereavement services at Calvary Hospital/Hospice; and Brad Stuart, medical director at Sutter VNA & Hospice.

Local participants Dr Robert Kloss, acting chief of hematology and oncology at Danbury Hospital and medical director for Regional Hospice; Cheryl Koeber, LCSW of Ann’s Place; and Joanne Ballerini, RN, BSN of the Praxair Cancer Center, will be featured during the panel discussion portion of the conference.

“This conference mixes two very important elements: nationally recognized experts together with local experts who can bring the national discussion home to our area,” said Kendall Palladino, director of bereavement and spiritual services at Regional Hospice.”

The program is offered free to anyone interested in attending. The program provides an opportunity for a wide variety of professionals — including doctors, nurses, funeral directors, psychologists, educators, social workers, and bereavement counselors — to share and exchange ideas and obtain continuing education credits.

Continuing education contact hours (CEs) will be available through the Hospice Foundation of America’s website for a fee of $25 online and $35 by check. Books on the topic will also be available and for sale.

To learn more about this satellite broadcast, visit the Hospice Foundation of America www.HospiceFoundation.org. To register, or for more information, call Regional Hospice’s Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children & Families at 203-792-4422.