Larry Hallett Gives Town Hall Audience Answers on Hospice

By Jackie Ryan

Due to a mix up in scheduling, Larry Hallett, an Oakmont resident and ordained minister, ended up as the speaker at a Jan. 3 Town Hall meeting, focusing on hospice and palliative care options. Fortunately for an audience of more than two dozen with questions, he had many of the answers they sought.  

Larry facilitates the Oakmont Grief Group which meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Suite B, 6637 Oakmont Drive, around the corner from the OVA office. He may be reached at (707) 540-9838 for more information.

A spiritual chaplain with 17 years’ experience with hospice, Hallett explained that palliative care is designed for people with life limiting conditions with the goal of reducing or relieving symptoms.  

“Hospice passes beyond that and is intended to keep you comfortable the last six months of your life,” Hallett said, emphasizing patients can make the choice after being referred by their physician. He said there is a certification period every three months to make sure the care is appropriate. Hospice care is fully funded under Medicare. 

In the early days, hospices focused on dying cancer patients, but it expanded to other diseases such as Parkinson’s and dementia, according to Hallett. He said there are thousands of hospice providers around the country. 

Asked how to compare or evaluate hospices, Hallett said the medical care is pretty much the same since all must have a doctor, nurse, social worker and a chaplain. A registered nurse typically visits patients in their homes once or twice a week while a family member or other person acts as caregiver, he said. 

In response to a question about whether you can switch out of hospice care, Hallett said you must sign a revocation form. What if you’re not religious, another attendee asked.

“Hospice provides for spiritual care which is a lot more than talking about God,” Hallett said. “It means talking about the meaning of your life.” 

 Asked if hospice provides assistance under California’s end of life option, Hallett responded “No.”  Linda Suhr, an end-of-life volunteer with Continuum Hospice also in the audience, added patients must cover medication costs.  

Rob Matheson of By the Bay Health is scheduled to cover additional elements of hospice care and palliative care at a follow-up Town Hall in the Berger Center on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m.