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Silverado Hospice began working with Go Wish in 2007 and it has providedwishes to nearly 100 people in its care. The Go Wish program was developed bythe not-for-profit Coda Alliance to educate hospice patients, their familymembers, and their caregivers about end-of-life care options and advance careplanning.
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Go Wish is based on a deck of 36 cards, each with a short statement aboutsomething that people often cite as being important to them in the last weeksor months of life. To use Go Wish (in the 'solitaire' mode), patients sort thecards, rank priorities about what's important to them, and then explain to afriend or family member why they sorted the cards in that manner. Choicesinclude reconnecting with an estranged family member, being free from pain,having a special person by one's side at the last moments, or reminiscing withold friends about personal accomplishments. Wild cards allow the selection ofalmost any activity, such as Mr. Heden's flying over the mountains. Wheneverpossible the Silverado Hospice team assists the patient, family and friends inrealizing the wish, large or small.
"Go Wish provides an innovative and helpful tool for people in hospice,their family, and friends to articulate or clarify wishes at what can be adifficult time," says Scott Robinson, senior vice president of SilveradoHospice. "The program not only provides the hospice patient with a specialopportunity, it also enhances communication and understanding."
Go Wish ties directly into Silverado's mission of providing life-affirmingcare and individual dignity at all stages of life, said Loren B. Shook,president of Silverado Senior Living.
"We founded Silverado Hospice believing that through effective,compassionate care, patients can approach the end of their lives with dignityand comfort in the midst of a caring environment sensitive to their needs,"Shook said. "We do this by helping our patients achieve physical and emotionalcomfort so they can concentrate on living life as fully as possible. Patientsare urged to, stay active as long as they are able, take part in activitiesthey enjoy and do something they have always wanted to do."
Silverado Hospice operates in California, Texas, and Utah. Its parentcompany, Silverado Senior Living, also operates 17 memory-care communities inCalifornia, Texas, Utah, and Arizona, and it offers home care and caremanagement in California, Texas, and Utah through its Silverado at Homeservice line. Established in 1996, Silverado Senior Living is based in SanJuan Capistrano, Calif. Visit www.Silveradosenior.com for more information.
SOURCE Silverado Senior Living
