Deck of Cards is More Than a Game: Integral in Silverado Ho...( SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Calif. Oct. 1...),Health

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- A senior citizen soared over the 13,500-foot peaks of Utah's Uinta Mountains in a small plane. The high-flying adventure was taken by retired WW II B-25 pilot Roy Heden. The thrill came from a last-wish program through Silverado Hospice, a service line of Silverado Senior Living, where Heden was a patient. Called Go Wish, the program is based on a deck of cards and it has helped many realize a special activity at the end of their lives.

Silverado Hospice began working with Go Wish in 2007 and it has provided wishes to nearly 100 people in its care. The Go Wish program was developed by the not-for-profit Coda Alliance to educate hospice patients, their family members, and their caregivers about end-of-life care options and advance care planning.

Go Wish is based on a deck of 36 cards, each with a short statement about something that people often cite as being important to them in the last weeks or months of life. To use Go Wish (in the 'solitaire' mode), patients sort the cards, rank priorities about what's important to them, and then explain to a friend or family member why they sorted the cards in that manner. Choices include reconnecting with an estranged family member, being free from pain, having a special person by one's side at the last moments, or reminiscing with old friends about personal accomplishments. Wild cards allow the selection of almost any activity, such as Mr. Heden's flying over the mountains. Whenever possible the Silverado Hospice team assists the patient, family and friends in realizing the wish, large or small.

"Go Wish provides an innovative and helpful tool for people in hospice, their family, and friends to articulate or clarify wishes at what can be a difficult time," says Scott Robinson, senior vice president of Silverado Hospice. "The program not only provides the hospice patient with a special opportunity, it also enhances communication and understanding.
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