8th Annual Community Hospice & Palliative CareSM Conference Highlights Unique Needs of Active Duty and Veteran Population and Their Caregivers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., September 18, 2017 - The numbers support a sentiment that so many of us already know: our nation’s veterans and their caregivers need our support – and they always have.
There are more than 333,000 veterans in the 16 counties that Community Hospice & Palliative Care serves. Many of them need the compassionate care of a caregiver, someone who answers their own call to service when a veteran comes home.
On Friday, September 22, military caregivers can find help at the 8th annual “Caring for the Military/Veteran Caregiver” conference, a free, public event that connects veterans and caregivers with education, resources and inspiration. The conference will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and will finish at 3 p.m. at WJCT Public Broadcasting, 100 Festival Park Ave. in downtown Jacksonville.
Featured speakers include special guest U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, who will offer opening remarks and discuss the special role of family caregivers to military members, Ms. Deborah Grassman, a leading clinical expert on serving veterans at the end of life, Ms. Nicole Johnson, Mr. Scheiloh Wolfe, Ms. Jennifer Mackinday and Ms. Brenda Mintze-Coleman. Guests will also view a special screening of the compelling Ken Burns documentary, “The Vietnam War.”
Military and caregiving experts will discuss a wide range of topics to help both veterans and caregivers: Vietnam veterans’ end-of-life stories, the journey of the military caregiver, VA healthcare benefits and the complexities of caregiving and intimacy. Community exhibitors will provide information on support resources and caregiver-focused services.
Registration is free and open to the public; a complimentary light breakfast and lunch will be served. Caregivers may also request no-cost on-site respite care, provided through Aging True Community Senior Services. Call 904.807.1319 to request this service.
The conference is hosted by Community Hospice & Palliative Care, with support from the Caregiver Coalition of Northeast Florida, a program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care. This year’s conference is presented by AARP® Jacksonville, with platinum level sponsorships from Brooks Rehabilitation and Baptist AgeWell Center for Senior Health, and gold level sponsorships from CareFree Insurance Services, VyStar, and Aetna. Register at Militarycaregiver.eventbrite.com or call 904.407.6790.
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About Community Hospice & Palliative Care
Established in 1979, Community Hospice & Palliative Care is an innovative national leader in palliative and hospice care, as well as providing programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. During its 38-year history, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has served nearly 200,000 adults and children in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, and recently expanded its service area to include 11 counties in north-central Florida. Through the support of more than 900 employees and 1,000 volunteers, the organization helps approximately 1,600 patients per day to live better with advanced illness – at home, in long-term care and assisted living facilities, in hospitals and at its eight inpatient care centers. The organization is committed to improving the quality of life for patients and their families and to be the compassionate guide for end-of-life care in our communities. No one is ever denied care due to an inability to pay. To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, visit CommunityHospice.com.