Re the articles
about death and dying , I would like to make two comments. First, one
important option was not mentioned under “Finding Your Funeral Fit,” namely donating
one's body to medical science. It costs nothing and benefits medical training
and research. I have made the same arrangement that we made for my husband. I
have registered myself with UC Irvine and their representative will come to
Santa Barbara and take my body back to the medical school. Mention might also
have been made of the possibility of donating body parts for transplantation.
Secondly, I was sorry to see that the perpetual confusion
about hospice care in Santa Barbara was reinforced by placing Hospice of Santa
Barbara at the top of the list under “When Is Hospice Needed.” HSB is not an
actual hospice. It is essentially a counseling center, an invaluable source of
guidance and therapy but not a provider of end-of-life nursing care, the true
function of a hospice facility or program. Visiting Nurse & Hospice ought
to get the most focus as the provider of in-home hospice care, which should be
made clear.
However, aside from these comments, I want to applaud you
for publishing this feature on a subject so often ignored.