Improve care for those with chronic diseases

As a nurse practitioner in the Neurology Clinic at Kaiser Roseville, I work closely with many older adults with Alzheimer's or other dementia. I've seen firsthand that nurses aren't trained to recognize and care for people with dementia in the hospital. And I've seen how families often misunderstand our offer of palliative care, which Kaiser offers as a way to improve care for people with advanced Alzheimer's, for an offer of hospice care, which would mean that their loved one is near death.

That's why I'm asking Congressman Tom McClintock to co-sponsor the bipartisan Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) (H.R. 1676). PCHETA would increase palliative care and hospice training for healthcare professionals and launch a national campaign to inform patients and families about the benefits of palliative care.

As a neurology nurse practitioner, I'm passionate about improving care for people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias, and PCHETA will help do that.

Please join me in asking Congressman McClintock to join 89 of his Republican colleagues in the House, including fellow California House Members LaMalfa, Valadao, Denham, Knight and Cook, in co-sponsoring PCHETA to improve care for Americans living with Alzheimer's and other chronic diseases.

Sally Pham, Granite Bay