Hospice Care Foundation Now at the Beaches

Thursday Oct 2. From 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Panama Hospice & Respite Foundation will be hosting a "Healthy Aging Seminar." Topics like health & medical insurance, legal documentation, estate planning, advance directives & general medical information will be covered. Early registration is offered at a cost of $20.00, or $25.00 at the door. Hosted by Grace Church - located in the Rey De Paz building past El Reys on Highway between the HIM Plaza & Caja De Ahorros Bank. Caring for an elderly or terminally ill person at the end of their life can be difficult and emotionally trying. Here in Panama, when an expat needs this type of care, there is an additional level of difficulty involved. The person is out of a familiar element, and often away from an extended structure of close family and friends. For this reason The Panama Hospice & Respite Foundation (PHRF) was recently formed, offering hospice care to English speaking expats.

PHRF started offering their volunteer services in Panama City last year. This year they extended their reach to expats living in the Pacific beach and mountain communities. We spoke with Peggy Ajax hospice homecare coordinator, about how the area will benefit from a hospice outreach program. 

Peggy’s experience as a hospice nurse in the US led her to connect with families in need of an English speaking caregiver here in Panama. “Prior to connecting with PHRF, I met two couples in the Coronado area and acted as a hospice nurse for these patients and their families”, said Peggy, it was through these experiences it became clear to her that the area was in need of a hospice program.

Hospice care is a service offering terminally ill patients medical aid and support. PHRF focuses on caring for, and not curing a patient’s illness. In most cases this care is provided in the patient’s home.  

When called upon, PHRF will come in to assess the needs of a patient and those of the main caregiver. They can lend equipment, help train with bathing, moving and giving medications. They will step-in to help if the caregiver needs to leave to do the shopping, have a shower, or simply needs a break. They will even recommend and arrange medical consultations and assist with topics such as medical insurance, legal documentation and estate planning in Panama.

Areas like Panama City, Boquete, Coronado and El Valle have become heavily populated with expats, many of these expats are aging retirees. Hospice offers a plan and support system for them as they enter the next stage of their lives. At this point assistance can only be provided in English.


If you are interested learning more about the PHRF outreach service in the Coronado area, how services can be accessed, upcoming seminars, or information on becoming a PHRF volunteer, visit the PHRF website at www.panamahospiceandrespite.org. To speak with a local PHRF coordinator email phrfcoronadoarea@gmail.com