November Is National Hospice Month, A Time To Raise Awareness

November is National Hospice Palliative Care Month, a time to reach out to our community to raise awareness about the compassionate care that hospice and palliative care provides.

This month Hospice Care of the Southwest is emphasizing the importance of the care that hospice provides for all panhandle residents, regardless of age, location or diagnosis.

A majority of people say they want to die at home surrounded by loved ones, but more than 63 percent of us die in hospitals and other institutions. Though the use of hospice has increased, only 44.6 percent of patients receive hospice care and often not until the last week of life, too late to attend to all the needs of the dying.

National Hospice Month reminds us that the care we provide brings hope to help people live life as fully as possible, offers dignity when there is not a cure and surrounds families with love at one of life’s most challenging times.

National Hospice Month also serves as a reminder that while there are many end of life care options, hospice provides the most opportunities to live life fully. Researchers found that the patients receiving hospice care reported a higher quality of life through the final course of their illness.

Hospice Care of the Southwest wants to ensure that people understand that help is available and that’s why National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is so close to our hearts after decades of observance. November is the best chance to educate and inform communities.

There’s an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you’ve given up when it’s really about living life to the fullest. Hospice and palliative care allows patients and their families to focus on what’s most important, living life and creating memories that can be cherished despite an advanced illness.

Hospice Care of the Southwest provides expert pain management, symptom control, social support and spiritual care to patients and their loved ones. The Hospice Care of the Southwest team answers questions, offers advice on what to expect, and helps families with the duties of being a caregiver. Hospice services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid in most states, and by most insurance plans. Hospice care is provided in the home, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and long term care centers.

If you or a loved one is facing a serious or life-limiting illness, the time to find out more about hospice and palliative care is right now.