FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/13/2022
Greencastle, Indiana.   During this season of giving, the Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association reminds people that advance healthcare planning (ACP) conversations are important for all adults at all stages of life and health.  “When people share their thoughts and wishes about end-of-life healthcare with their loved ones, they give their loved ones the gift of peace of mind,” stresses Elaine Peck, PCHPCA Director. 

Peck added, “At the end of life, difficult decisions about healthcare treatment must be made by loved ones if the seriously ill person is unable to make their own decisions.  Having a sense of what your loved one would have wanted is such a wonderful gift to have at this very sad and stressful time.” 

Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association offers information, resources, and support to help make these conversations easier for individuals, their loved ones, and their healthcare providers.  Some of these resources include:

• Free information packets such as the “Vital Medical Information File,” the “My Advance Directives Folder” and the “Serious Illness Information and Resources Folder”
• The PCHPCA website at pchpca.org.
• Free consultation provided by trained local ACP conversation facilitators.
• Free individualized education and support sessions via zoom on the second Wednesday of every month, from noon to 1 PM.

To register for a monthly remote ACP session via zoom or for additional information, contact Elaine Peck, Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 765.301.7614. 

The Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association (PCHPCA) seeks to enhance the quality of life for the terminally ill, their loved ones, and caregivers, by educating the Putnam County community about the benefits of hospice, palliative care, and advance care planning.   PCHPCA is a nonprofit, public charity, and operates with the help of donations, financial support from the Putnam County Community Foundation, and fiscal sponsorship by the Putnam County Hospital. For more information, visit www.pchpca.org.

The Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association hears many end-of-life stories.  These stories are always hard, but sometimes they are also stories of peace, comfort, and enduring love.  We work toward the vision that everyone’s end-of-life story can have its own kind of beauty and be a source of inspiration and connectedness.  A board member shares her family’s story below, in hopes that it might help others. 

When I was asked to share my story about the experience our family has had with cancer care, I did not realize how hard it would be to describe.  Considering I have been in hospice and palliative care for over 13 years, I am sure I hold many strong beliefs about how we best care for those with life-limiting illnesses.  Our family’s experiences this year reveal that it is more important than ever to educate and advocate about hospice and palliative care, as well as healthcare choices and planning, and it is my hope that our story will help others.

Contact information:
M. Elaine Peck, Director
Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association
1542 South Bloomington Street
Greencastle, IN 46135
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.