“Living Well With Serious Illness” Is Topic of Vintage House Talk

March 23, 2018

Exploring how palliative care can help maintain quality of life during a serious illness is the topic on an upcoming talk at Vintage House. Titled “Living Well With Serious Illness,” the talk will be given by Steven Pantilat, MD, Professor of Medicine at UCSF and the founding Director of the UCSF Palliative Care Program. It will be held Friday, April 13 at Vintage House from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. There is no cost to attend and a light lunch and refreshments will be provided.

“Being diagnosed with a serious illness can feel overwhelming and frightening,” said Dr. Pantilat. “Between the initial shock and the confusing terminology flying around, it’s hard to understand what exactly the diagnosis is — and how it will affect your life.”

“Whether its diabetes, cancer, lung disease, stroke or Parkinson’s, the next question that haunts patients and caregivers alike is the same: what happens next? Unfortunately there are many false assumptions about serious illness that make it even harder to get good care. One false assumption is that you have to choose between quantity and quality of life. The truth is that you can have both,” he said.

Dr. Pantilat has discussed this topic in depthin his book, “Life After Diagnosis, ExpertAdvice on living Well with Serious Illness for Patients and Caregivers.”

Related to the topic of palliative care is the importance of having an Advance Health Care Directive to ensure that your health care plans are communicated to care providers and family members. Following the talk there will be two workshops to create your own Advance Health Care Directive that will be led by a team of experts from Sonoma Valley Hospital, Hospice by the Bay, and My Care My Plan – an initiative of Sonoma County.

Workshop I:  2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Stone Hall/Vintage House (following the keynote speaker)

Workshop II: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Room 105/Vintage House

Please RSVP to Vintage House at 707-996-0311 or to Celia Kruse de la Rosa, SVH, at 707-935-5257, or ckrusedelarosa@sonomavalleyhospital.org. Vintage House is located at 264 1^st Street East, in Sonoma. Let them know if you also plan to participate in one of the Advance Health Care Directive Workshops.

This presentation is made possible through a collaboration of several health care entities, elder advocacy associations, and community organizations that include:  Sonoma Valley Hospital, Hospice by the Bay, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Vintage House, My Care My Plan, Elder Resource Alliance of Sonoma Valley, F.I.S.H., Council on Aging, North Bay Alzheimer’s Association, KSVY/SVTV, Cancer Support Sonoma, and the Center for Aging and Values. Our Honorarium Sponsors are: Hospice by the Bay and Sonoma Valley Community Health Center.

Additional information about Steven Pantilat, MD can be found at stevepantilat.com