Today, September 30, 2005, is my last day working for Vitas Innovative Healthcare Corporation as one of their hospice chaplains. I leave their employ feeling a deep sense of loss but moving into a new position as a hospital chaplain. In the course of my eleven and a half years with them, they have become part of my family and I love them. Vitas, in my opinion, is the finest hospice in the country, and team 403 the best goup of caregivers, with the heart and the resources to provide the care that is needed to terminal patients. Here, in this article, is a brief message that I shared with my team yesterday. I hope it will be of help to all you wonderful hospice workers.

Yesterday, I did a seminar in Houston for Seasons Seminars. The participants were excellent. The seminar was entitled, The Dying Process in the Long Term Care Facility: Caring for Patients, Families, and Staff. I just want to thank the group that came. You were all delightful and it was pure joy to be a presenter.

As the fall months approach, in the United States so does Thanksgiving. And, it's the perfect time to begin planning a celebration for you and your family that honors your stories and memories of the past.

A new magazine is available online for those who are coping with neurological illness and their families. It is an official publication of the American Academy of Neurology. It provides a wealth of information and it is free!

Recently, ElderHope taped several new Community Focus segments with Dr. James Griffin, Station Director of KEOM 88.5FM. In the first of two sessions, Dr. Griffin spoke with Barb about what are known as Black Box warnings on medications. They're meant to get your attention, and they should. Learn why here. In the second session Barb talks with Dr. Griffin about the difficulties of aging and transitions. You can read that transcript here. And you can see all of our articles in the Sections area of the site.