Hospice is not a place but a philosophy of care that is taken to those experiencing a life-limiting illness wherever they are…at home, in assisted living or a nursing home and even in the hospital.  Hospice provides a family-centered approach to care emphasizing quality of life offered by a team consisting of doctors, nurses (with expertise in pain and symptom control), social service support, bereavement support and trained volunteers.  Each team member works together with the family to focus on the dying person’s needs; physical, psychological, social and spiritual.  When desired, trained volunteers are available about 4-6 hours each week to offer support and respite for families. 

Hospice of Anchorage plays a unique role in meeting the needs of individuals and families in our community with a life-limiting progressive illness.  We freely offer access to end of life and grief support to all with the goal of empowering, supporting and offering reassurance, practical tools and ideas for this challenging time.  We assist and support rather than take over the decisions and choices which every individual has the right to make for themselves and their family while at the same time promoting physical, emotional and spiritual comfort. Because we do not receive reimbursement for our services from third party payers, like Medicare, we are available to people who choose to continue active treatment for their illness. We also care for people under the age of 65, including children, many without insurance or under insured.

At Hospice of Anchorage we are a source of information and educational presentations on end of life and are available to speak on many topics such as grief in the workplace or advanced planning. We also offer grief support to the community at large, as well as families who receive our services during an illness.

Hospice of Anchorage supports individuals and families in managing illness, loss and grief regardless of their ability to pay—there is no charge to families for any of our services.  We are honored to provide this care on behalf of the larger community that generously provides funding for our programs.  We gratefully accept donations of all kinds, and we welcome those wishing to volunteer.

Living with Grief  

On April 29 , 2009 , Hospice Foundation of America will broadcast its 16th National Bereavement Teleconference, “Living with Grief: Diversity & End-of-Life Care”. The annual teleconference is recognized as a leading grief and bereavement training program in the country, having reached over three quarters of a million professionals in communities across the US and Canada. The local broadcast of this conference will be held at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at UAA and is sponsored by Hospice of Anchorage, UAA School of Nursing and the Alaska Comprehensive Cancer Partnership.

For a complete agenda and registration form, click here for the event brochure (.pdf reader required)

Additional information about the event and the materials covered is available on the Hospice Foundation of America's teleconference website.

Congratulations to the 2009 Heroes Honorees:

Global Community Service
Dr. Linda McBryde

Local Community Service
Dr. Dale Webb

 Hospice Humanitarian
Michelle Moran, RN

Local Community Service, Non-Physician
Anchorage Project Access

 Lifetime of Service
Dr. Roger Gollub (Posthumous)

Thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, volunteers, and to all those who joined us for making this a wonderful and memorable evening.

Thanks to all of our donors and volunteers at the 2008 Hospice of Anchorage Remembrance Tree.

Over 500 ornaments were displayed honoring loved ones on the 2008 Remembrance Tree. This annual event raised almost $50,000 to support others facing the transition from life through death.

Special thanks to Mayor Mark Begich, event sponsor ConocoPhillips, Remembrance Tree Honorary Chair Ermalee Hickel, the volunteers from Credit Union One, Lee Willis and Marion Richter, and all those who contributed and volunteered to make this event a success. For more information on this annual tradition, please click here.