Tuesday, October 22, 2013

November is National Hospice Month

Hospice of Southern Illinois Helps Community Learn About Special Care Hospice Provides

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about important care issues for people coping with life-limiting illness. Throughout the month of November, organizations across the nation are hosting activities that focus on celebrating this unique system of support and the benefits provided by the loving care of hospice. Hospice of Southern Illinois is committed to bringing important information to the communities we serve, so we are encouraging everyone to participate in the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organizations’ social media campaign to raise awareness about what hospice is and what hospice is to them. To participate, employees, community leaders, and general public should take a photo of themselves holding a sheet of paper that says, “Hospice is… ________” and fill in the blank with a word that describes what hospice is to them. After taking the photo, post it on their personal Facebook Page and tag Hospice of Southern Illinois in the post or comment section so we can see it on the Hospice of Southern Illinois’ Facebook Page. Don’t forget to use the hash tag #hospicemonth to take part in being a hospice advocate for National Hospice and Palliative Care Month 2013!

“Every year, more than 1.65 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country,” said J. Donald Schumacher, President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “These highly-trained professionals don’t only provide quality medical care. They work to make sure patients and families find dignity, respect, and love during life’s most difficult journey.”

Hospice is more than traditional healthcare. Hospice and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. Hospice and palliative care combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life.

“After working at Hospice of Southern Illinois for many years, I figured I knew what hospice was. It was not until I saw Hospice of Southern Illinois’ nurses, volunteers, and social workers in action with my own family that I realized what it really stood for. It brought forward a whole new understanding of end-of-life care. As my supervisor always says, ‘You may remember how smart or how pretty someone is, but you will always remember how kind someone is.’ When I saw the special attention and kindness my own co-workers provided my loved one, I fully understood hospice from that point forward.” said Christine Juehne, Print and Social Media Coordinator at Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Additional information about hospice, palliative care, and advance care planning is available from Hospice of Southern Illinois, your community not-for-profit hospice, at www.hospice.org. NHPCO’s Caring Connections offers information and resources for professionals and consumers at www.caringinfo.org