Hip, Original Holiday Tunes Bring Joy -- and Raise Awareness About Hospice Services

It's tough to educate people about advanced directives - documents outlining one's treatment wishes in case an illness affects the decision-making process. Yet, given the facts it's common sense: Only 10% of us will die suddenly; the other 90% will be aware of when the final phase of life begins. Despite those numbers, less than 25% of Americans have formalized plans for those situations. Hospices are an excellent resource to guide patients and families through advance care planning and decision-making before a crisis occurs. To raise awareness about this vital service, New Jersey-based Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center is selling a double CD-set of hip, original holiday songs with the hopes of raising awareness of what hospice is, and to raise funds for their non-profit center. While the music is fun, information about hospice appears in the liner notes.

New Jersey (PRWEB) November 28, 2005 -- What does a collection of “eclectic, friendly, alternative-ish holiday music” have to do with a hospice program? According to Spiro Ballas, Senior Volunteer Coordinator at Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center (SBHPCC), his holiday music compilation entitled “Holiday Heart” goes a long way toward spreading cheer, raising awareness about end-of-life care, and raising funds to benefit people and families dealing with advanced disease.

He explains, “Hospice gives tremendous support to patients and families during one of the most challenging times of their lives. It’s a form of healthcare that’s underutilized, mostly because people don’t know about it. We’re raising both awareness of and funds for our non-profit program through the sales of ‘Holiday Heart.’”

Featuring catchy, original music reflecting the ups and downs of the holidays in modern times, “Holiday Heart” was crafted to tell stories about the holidays from different viewpoints. The first CD follows “the ebb and flow of romance during the holidays.” The second disc traces the path from the excitement of the coming celebrations, to the feeling of “Enough is enough!” It concludes with hope that the true meaning of the holidays will endure throughout the year. “Holiday Heart” was mastered by six-time Grammy nominee Scott Hull, of Jigsaw Sound in New York City.

To order “Holiday Heart” or “Ho-Ho-Ho-Spice,” a companion CD that was released in 2002, visit www.hohohospice.com. These limited edition collections can also be found at Borders Books and Music. All proceeds will benefit SBHPCC.

Several of the artists featured on the CDs have experienced hospice services themselves. Self-described “hopped-up folk singer” Leah Zicari says that when her father, a well-known recording engineer and sound designer, was diagnosed with cancer he requested that his family support him in his wish to die at home.

She explains, “The irony is that [my mother worked at a hospital, and it certainly would have been easier for her to have him there where she worked…without hospice, she would not have been able to do it. Hospice provided the way for her to fulfill his wishes.”

Marc Bacino, a “Bubblegum Power-Pop” singer, says both of his grandmothers lived in hospice facilities. He was taken by the warm, home-like environments in which they lived. He says, “I truly believe hospice is the next best alternative to home care. It gave piece of mind to my family and I believe it allowed both my grandmothers to live out their days on this earth in dignity and grace.”

For more information about “Holiday Heart” or about volunteer opportunities at SBHPCC, call Mr. Ballas at 973-322-4866. SBHPCC provides services to residents throughout the state of New Jersey. For information about services or fundraising events, call 973-322-4800.
# # #