Jennifer Marsh, hospice expert

One of the things that we need to consider in our retirement lifestyle planning is how we are going to deal with illness and dying.  And, when the time comes, hospice care can be an excellent way of preparing ourselves for the inevitable.

I knew that Jennifer was a hospice expert, but I didn't know that in 2006 she got her Master's Degree.  She worked with

children at the time and went to school to get her Master's Degree.  She credits her professor with saving her life when he suggested that she work with hospice.  There are only two schools that offer courses on death and dying in San Diego.

Jennifer Marsh is a community education and outreach specialist for Hospice of the North Coast. She has over ten years of creating, marketing and sustaining thriving educational programs to the general community about serious illness, care-giving and grief and loss issues.

Jennifer has been published in the Touching Lives magazine (2009), and featured on KOCT-TV and Eldercare Talk Radio providing insight and resources to those coping with a serious illness, caring for a loved one and grieving. Jennifer is an expert on hospice and mortality and has been interviewed on the SevenPonds Blog.

She has expertise in creating and implementing community outreach and fundraising events, including Breathe Deep San Diego.

In 2013, she was named as a Finalist for the San Diego Women Who Mean Business Awards through the San Diego Business Journal.

Everyone I know who works in hospice care is a caring person.  That field seems to attract loving and patient people.  Jennifer's mom had cancer, and even though she had already been working in her chosen field when this happened, she instantly became “the daughter”.  She knows what its like to have a loved one who has been diagnosed with a deadly disease.

There are a lot of misconceptions about hospice and that's why I asked Jennifer to be on the show.  She shared with us the important truth about hospice:

• Recommended reading is “Being Mortal“.  You can watch the documentary on Front Line.
• National Hospice has a FAQ that answers common questions such as:   
  • When is the right time to ask about hospice?
  • How does care begin?
  • Will I be the only hospice patient that the staff serves?
  • Is care available after hours?
  • How does it work to keep the patient comfortable?
  • What role does the volunteer serve?
  • If I reside in a nursing facility or other type of long-term care facility can I elect hospice care?
  • What happens if I cannot stay at home due to my increasing care need and require a different place to stay during my final phase of life?
  • Do state and federal reviewers inspect and evaluate hospices?
  • How can I be sure that quality care is provided?

To get the answers, just go to their website HERE.

Secrets about Retirement Your Broker won't tell you. Get your FREE report NOW!

• Choosing a hospice care program does not mean you are giving up hope

• It is not a PLACE.  It is a type of care

• Ask your doctor if he or she will continue to work with you.  Many programs have working relationships with their referring doctors

• Palliative care comes before hospice and you can start that as soon as you have a diagnosis. You don't give up curative treatment

• Hospice focuses on Quality of Life, and supports psycho-social, medical, and spiritual needs.  These can include:
  • Pet Therapy
  • Music Therapy
  • Life Stories
  • Care Advocates

• You can leave hospice if you choose

• It includes free grief support for a year or longer after the patient's death

Contact Jennifer at jmarsh@hospicenorthcoast.org or 760-431-4100

Hospice of the North Coast also has an annual fundraising event that you can attend. As of this posting it will be on April 8th.  We hope to see you there!

Get today's Freebie at http://RockYourRetirement.com/HospiceMyths

Special Thanks to:

• Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track
• Les Briney who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific
• Lesinda Tubalado who helps keep the website up to date
• YOU the listener for letting other people know about this show by sharing on social media, and telling your friends about it

This post on Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Rocking Retirement Gal

Kathe Kline has been working with retirees for over 25 years. She discovered that retirement is not just about money and insurance, but is also about: Social & Family; Adventure & Travel; Volunteer & Philanthropy; Spirit & Soul, Sexual issues, and Sandwich Generation issues or helping your Family members as they age

This site will host the podcast interviews that we will do with people who are Rocking their own Retirement, or who provide services to you so that you can Rock Your Retirement!

Rock on!