Hospice social worker Marty Hogan has published a Spanish translation of If I Should Die[horizontal ellipsis] The Dying Process, her successful guide written to assist the dying individual and his/her family caregivers through the final stages of death. The latest edition is in response to a trend that Hogan has witnessed in Southern Oregon, she said. "Here in Oregon, we have experienced a large and rapid increase in the number of Hispanic patients on our service," she said. "Many times, we have needed materials in Spanish to parallel the resources available in English."
US Census Bureau figures indicate that the Hispanic population of the country is expected to reach nearly 50 million by 2010 and that many states experienced increases of more than 25% in their Hispanic or Latino populations between 2000 and 2006. The increase in Oregon was 36%, and Washington saw a 30% jump. Several states in the South saw increases of more than 50%.
Translated by Sra Monica Kuhlmann Zamora of Guadalajara, Mexico, the Spanish version, Si Yo Muriera[horizontal ellipsis] El Proceso de la Muerte, provides the same concise and practical advice on dealing with the stages of the dying process as found in the English-language edition. The 30-page booklet, published by Sacred Vigil Publishing, explains and documents the mental, physical, and spiritual changes that dying people experience. It offers clear and concise ideas to soothe dying persons and enhance their comfort and sense of peace while also providing ways for the family and loved ones to cope during the difficult time.
Marty Hogan, LCSW, is a hospice social worker with Providence Hospice in Medford, OR. She has more than 15 years' experience in home care and hospice social work and has worked in a variety of settings, including state agencies offering services to abused and neglected children, people with mental illness, and persons who are developmentally disabled. She has a master's degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more information on Sacred Vigil Publishing and a list of upcoming booklets, visit http://www.sacredvigil.com.