Background essay on the Nathan Adelson Hospice, undated

BACKGROUND NATHAN ADELSON MEMORIAL HOSPICE In the spring of 1978, Nathan Adelson, one of Las Vegas' most respected citizens and the founder of Sunrise Hospital, died of cancer. His family and many devoted friends have been searching for the proper living memorial to this man of compassion and wisdom. They have determined that a proper tribute would be the development of a Hospice. The decision to sponsor this undertaking is to a large degree the result of their understanding of the human condition experienced by the patient and his family facing death. Much can be done through the hospice to ease this ordeal. The hospice concept is new to North America but has been successfully integrated into the medical care system of England, most noted being St. Christopher's Hospice in London. The hospice is a program, not just a facility. It is designed to fill the gaps in existing community services. All those human aspects of living that often become peripheral to the medical care of the terminally ill patient in the acute hospital or nursing home setting, are carefully provided for in the hospice program. The hospice acknowledges in a positive way the special type of skilled care needed by the dying patient and his family. The hospice is able to bring a multidisciplinary team approach to the treatment of the terminally ill patient and his family. Establishing the model of excellence is the best way to assure that the extraordinary value of the hospice will be realized. The Nathan Adelson Memorial Hospice provides just such an opportunity for the fo1lowing reasons: 1. Sunrise Hospital is dedicated to the success of this under-taking. 2. The Adelson family and friends committed to this project are persons of exceptional energy and resource. 3. The community of Las Vegas has the capacity to support the hospice. PROPOSAL A not-for-profit corporation will be established to pursue the develop-ment of a hospice in the Las Vegas community. The family and friends of Nathan Adelson, to whose memory the project wi-11 be dedicated, will serve along with other community leaders on the Nathan Adelson Memorial Hospice Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will be responsible for acquiring the resources necessary to design and operate a hospice which will be a credit to the vision of the entire community. Sunrise Hospital's role will be to offer the assistance required for the- Hospice Board of Directors to achieve their goal. The Nathan Adelson Memorial Hospice Board of Directors, chaired by Pearl Adelson and co-chaired by Merv Adelson and Irwin Molasky will: Become thoroughly acquainted with the hospice concept. Identify leaders in the hospice movement who will be helpful to the Las Vegas project. - Carry forth to the community an education program designed to inform the public of hospice and the specific plans for Las Vegas. Page 2 - Initiate a feasibility study to determine the size and so e of the hospice, identify current sources of funding and any obstacles to the project. - Oversee the formation of the not-for-profit corporation which will own and be responsible for the hospice. MAJOR TASKS OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION 1. Organize fund raising efforts from within the community. 2. Seek foundation support for the project. 3. Seek corrective measures to overcome any obstacles to the project that were identified in the feasibility study. Examples: Nevada law may have to be altered to provide for the optimum functioning of a hospice. 4. Begin definitive planning including: a. Land acquisition. b. Architectural design. c. Acquiring executive staff. Page 3