Caregiver Respite Program – Friends Of Hospice

Are you caring for a loved one with a terminal illness or maybe you know of someone who is?

Friends of Hospice SW Washington recognizes that caregivers forego their lives to care for a loved one with a terminal illness and that these incredible individuals need and deserve a break. Our Caregiver Respite Program allows family/friend caregivers time off to recharge so they have the strength, energy and spirit to carry on. Each relief opportunity is valued at $2,000 and the hospice patient and family select a professional, licensed, in-home care agency of their choice so they can focus on themselves and not caregiving. The families that have used the fund shared that Friends of Hospice has given them back “normalcy” in their life. If you know of someone that would benefit from the Caregiver Respite Program or would like more information, please contact:

PeaceHealth Southwest Hospice Home Care 360-839-3069

If you would like to donate specifically to our Caregiver Respite Program, please click here and select Caregiver Respite as the category.

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Akhil’s Story

A true story about an amazing family that had their very normal life shattered when they were told that the husband (and father of 3 beautiful daughters), was diagnosed with a terminal disease, ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This is a family, maybe much like your family, that were busy with everyday NORMAL events like working, raising children, planning for retirement, graduations, weddings, and grandchildren. Normal daily events changed quickly with Akhil’s progressing disease that rapidly debilitated him, leaving him completely dependent upon his wife, Laura’s 24-hour a day care and support. Can you even begin to imagine how this would change your life if you suddenly had to become a full-time, unpaid caregiver for someone you loved?

There are approximately 40 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S., just like Laura, providing an invaluable resource in caring for someone who is terminally ill or disabled so they can remain in their own home. In Clark County we have approximately 55,000 caregivers who are unselfishly foregoing normalcy to care for their family member, a friend, or a neighbor. These caregivers aren’t strangers; they may be your best friend, your nextdoor neighbor, your mother, father, sister or brother.

Although these incredible caregivers will tell you “They wouldn’t have it any other way,” this type of responsibility doesn’t come without a price. These amazing individuals many times suffer from symptoms including; fatigue, stress, pain, depression, guilt, improper nutrition, and for some misuse of alcohol or prescription drugs, that they unfortunately turn to just to cope. Most of the time they are the last person to recognize their own suffering from physical and mental exhaustion. NORMAL is no longer a part of their life.