Hospice of North Idaho receives grant

HAYDEN - Hospice of North Idaho received a $20,000 grant from the Idaho Quality of Life Coalition to promote an end-of-life discussion campaign.

"The Conversation Project" is a public engagement campaign. The goal is to "have every person's end-of-life wishes expressed and respected" by encouraging people to have conversations now, around the dinner table, rather than in emergency departments or intensive care units.

The grant allows staff and volunteers from the nonprofit Hospice to travel to and partner with local organizations in select communities in the 10 northern counties to present forums about having end-of-life discussions as well as provide information on Hospice, palliative care and advance planning.

"We are on a mission to equip the citizens of North Idaho with the right tools to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones," said Hospice of North Idaho Executive Director Kim Ransier.

"This grant provides us with the resources to get out to our rural communities and provide forums, tools, trainings and public discussions about how to initiate these conversations."

Robert Ancker, Hospice of North Idaho's medical director, and other end-of-life experts have been presenting at facilities since early 2013.

The grant will allow the expansion of this campaign into other counties and, in particular, rural areas.

The grant from the Idaho Quality of Life Coalition is part of a larger project called "The Right Choice at the Right Time" being funded by the Cambria Health Foundation.

The Idaho Quality of Life Coalition is a statewide coalition of healthcare professionals, private citizens and businesses working together to provide information and education on Hospice and advance planning.