It wasn’t a difficult decision for Ruth Zech when she selected the picture she wants to use to remember her husband Donald. In it he displays two salmon he reeled in near Ilwaco, Wash.

Donald passed away in March, and for Ruth the photo speaks volumes about his life, love of the outdoors and good nature. Those are traits she wants people to see when Evergreen Hospice presents its yearly slide show at the Light Up A Life ceremony Nov. 23.

The event begins at 2 p.m. at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center. The slide show is a highlight for those attending.

“It’s for family members and for patients living and gone; a glimpse of patients younger and healthier, doing what they love,” said hospice manager Barbara Hansen.

For Zech the decision to call Evergreen provided comfort for her husband in his final months and helped them cope during that time.

“I couldn’t have got along without them. They were very supportive and still are,” she said.

In Linn and Benton counties, fewer than 50 percent of qualified families used hospice services last year. The state average is 60 percent.

“Our program is very underutilized,” Hansen said.

A physician-certified terminal prognosis of six months or less to live qualifies patients, who may refer themselves or be referred by a physician or family member.

Hansen said that hospice is fully covered by Medicare and most private insurance. Caregivers come to a home, an assisted living facility or nursing home, wherever patients feel most comfortable.

“We are there to help them get the best quality of life out of the time they have left,” said Hansen.

Families receive grief support and followup visits for up to a year.

Caregivers can see from four to six patients each day.

Evergreen’s registered nurses, medical social workers, hospital aides and chaplains provide daily service. Volunteers provide additional aid. Two therapy dogs are popular.

“They are here every day. And they bring Marfa (nurse Ann Arquette’s therapy dog). They are the only ones I have to help,” says patient John Donel.

Still, many who qualify hesitate to use hospice services.

“People are leery,” said Hansen, “but most using hospice tell us they wish they had started earlier.”

For information about Evergreen, the Light Up A Life program, to volunteer, or to make a referral, call 812-4662.