The Sunrise Points of Light Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established by Sunrise Health and Hospice, was created to improve health and end of life care for individuals and their families, while supporting deep-seated societal change in addressing healthcare and end of life needs.

The Need

• During an illness families may experience special needs that are not provided for by healthcare professionals or services. Occasions may arise in which families may need help with unpaid bills, travel expenses, granting a last wish, or extra care or equipment that is not covered by the patient’s insurance or healthcare program.
• Individuals and families are often overwhelmed by the day-to-day needs of living and care giving under the pressure of a significant illness. Families are often left under the stress of not enough time in the day to get everything done, as well as not allotting time for their own needs.
• Approximately three-fourths of the terminally ill patients who could benefit from hospice services go without these services. For whatever reason, this lack of access denies patients and their families the medical, social and spiritual support necessary for a quality end of life experience.
• Although the nation’s elderly population is growing, the training of healthcare workers to meet this need is falling well short of this rapid growth. In addition, the numbers of those who are trained to deal with specific end of life care issues are limited.
• During times of changing abilities and need, seniors and their families become inundated with the strain of trying to find accommodations, services and resources to meet their need or their loved one’s requirements.

The Foundation in Action
Addressing the Need
The Foundation advances the cause of improving health and hospice care for individuals and their families in several ways, including, but not limited to:

• Making a difference in people’s lives fall under the category of “Special Needs.” The Foundation makes grants to fund extraordinary expenses that lie outside the realm of health or hospice care but are nevertheless critically important to the comfort or peace of mind of patients and their families.
• Sponsoring conferences, seminars and other events to bring together leaders and practitioners of end-of-life care to discuss new concepts and share best practices.
• Promoting educational scholarships that specifically addresses health and end-of-life issues, and fostering continuing education for medical professionals and other members of the interdisciplinary care team.
• Provides venues to educate the public about end-of-life issues and options. Many people currently do not receive the benefits of hospice care simply because they do not know such a resource exists. By encouraging community outreach programs and forums, the Foundation fosters much-needed discussion of death and dying and improves access to supportive resources for terminally ill patients and their loved ones.
• Recruiting, training and providing ways for community members to volunteer to help families meet day-to-day needs that arise in households that are overwhelmed by constant care giving requirements.
• Providing alternative information and guidance for senior living accommodations, services, resources and advice for the senior community.

Partnering with the Foundation

• The Foundation’s founding corporate support came from Sunrise Health and Hospice.

• The Foundation accepts gifts and grants from corporations, foundations and other organizations, as well as individual donors.

Your Gift:
Your donation of money and time go directly toward making a difference in the lives of health and hospice patients and their families.

• Give financial assistance to families whose needs fall outside
  the realm of health and hospice care.
• Sponsor conferences, scholarships and grants to improve
  health and end-of-life care in America.
• Increase awareness of the benefits and availability of both health and hospice care and services.
• Volunteer to help relieve households who are in need of assistance.