Hospice Foundation of America Partners With AGIS for New Online Resource to Help Millions of Americans

AGIS' New Section Provides In-Depth Information and Expert Advice for Caregivers Struggling With Complex End-of-Life Issues With Loved Ones


SAN RAMON, CA--(Marketwire - February 12, 2008) - AGIS (www.agis.com), a premier online community and information resource for family caregivers, has partnered with the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) to offer expert advice and information on end-of-life issues for caregivers. AGIS provides caregiving expertise and advice across the entire spectrum of caregiving. This new addition to the AGIS eldercare portal showcases HFA's unique expertise in caregiving issues involving terminal illness, grief, emotional pain and other complex issues associated with the last months or weeks of a loved one's life.

Caregiving is usually a life-changing experience and can be emotionally charged especially when a loved one's health deteriorates past the point of improvement. Recognizing the need to provide resources for caregivers in all phases of caring, AGIS' new information section includes information on comfort through treatment of illness-related symptoms, hospice care and grief. Individual sections on the site feature additional information on solace and grief management strategies for both caregivers and ailing loved ones that enable practical and comforting solutions for every step of the process. The new AGIS interactive HFA "Ask the Experts" section enables families to find specific answers to personal challenges easily online.

"As our loved ones age, it is critical to be prepared and informed about all issues," said David Abrams, President, HFA. "We at Hospice Foundation of America hope this new resource will provide needed assistance that will help those struggling during this emotionally challenging time."

"We are honored to partner with HFA to bring caregivers a complete resource for all their needs," said Kevin Sypniewski, Founder and CEO of AGIS. "The information we have developed along with HFA's expert resources will hopefully help caregivers through all phases of care."

HFA has an array of expert contributors that include doctors specializing in emotional grieving such as Kenneth Doka, PhD, author of numerous books on grief and bereavement including the widely acclaimed "Living with Grief: Before and After Death," and William Lamers, Jr., MD, founder of one of the first hospice programs in the United States. While no one can ever be fully prepared for the emotions and situations that come from caring for a dying loved one, HFA and AGIS desire that no family caregiver will ever have to face this time alone.

AGIS has a comprehensive collection of information and community features all designed to give caregivers a fully functional resource for caring for aging parents, friends or family members. AGIS works hand-in-hand with leading organizations, such as HFA, to deliver the web's premier resource for eldercare information. AGIS site includes long term care resources, Alzheimer's disease and dementia information, legal and financial preparation tips, checklists, suggestions for new caregivers and much more.

HFA's Ask the Expert section is located at: http://www.agis.com/community/Ask-The-Experts/hfa/

About AGIS Network (Assist Guide Information Service), Inc.

AGIS (AssistGuide Information Services) is the leading online community providing comprehensive information and access to eldercare solutions and services. Since 1998, AGIS (formerly AssistGuide) has been providing technology driven resources for the aging and disability communities. The company helps improve the quality of life for seniors and their families by uniting eldercare education with local, regional and national support services. For more information about AGIS, visit www.agis.com.

About Hospice Foundation of America

Hospice Foundation of America provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care with the goal of enhancing the American health care system and the role of hospice within it. For more information, go to www.hospicefoundation.org.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Jessica Hasson Terpin Communications (323) 710-3556