November marks 25th Anniversary of National Hospice Month
November 2003 marks the 25th anniversary of National Hospice Month, a time when the nation’s 3,200 hospice providers reach out to their communities promoting awareness of the quality care available at the end of life. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization honors the work of these providers and encourages all Americans to talk with their families about the kind of care they would want.
Since President Jimmy Carter signed the first National Hospice Month proclamation 25 years ago, hospice has touched the lives of millions of Americans by offering comfort, compassion, and state-of-the-art medical care.
Hospice usage in the United States has been growing steadily in recent years. NHPCO reports that more than 885,000 patients were served by hospice in 2002. This represents an increase of 12 percent from 2001.
Hospice uses an interdisciplinary team of health care professionals and trained volunteers to provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to those living with life-limiting illness as well as their families. With 80 percent of hospice care occurring in the home, the wishes of the patient and family are always a priority for the hospice care team.
Yet, much remains to be done. Many Americans spend the final days of life in hospitals, with untreated pain, undergoing curative treatments that may be of little or no benefit. Many Americans are unaware that:
- Support for the dying and their loved ones is available
- Pain and symptom control, emotional and spiritual support, bereavement care, and dignity are all possible at the end of life.
- Hospice care is available at little or no cost under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs and other managed health organizations.
- Hospice provides care regardless of diagnosis.
- Care is not limited to only six months.
“Far too many people wait until they are facing a health crisis in their family to learn about care options,” commented J. Donald Schumacher, Psy.D., NHPCO president and CEO. “It becomes very difficult to make informed decisions at times like these. The best time to learn about end-of-life care is before you are faced with this serious issue.”
In order to promote a wider public understanding of hospice and palliative care, NHPCO has unveiled the first national Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Ribbon. Released in honor of the 25th anniversary of National Hospice Month, this purple and green ribbon was created to increase awareness and inform the world of the special care hospice and palliative care provides at the end of life.
NHPCO reminds all people about the importance of communicating your wishes to family and loved ones—early and often. Americans of all ages should take time to discuss advance directives. Two consumer brochures, “Communicating Your End-of-Life Wishes,” and “Let’s Start Talking,” may be downloaded at no charge from NHPCO’s Web site, www.nhpco.org. Go the Hospice and Palliative Care Information section and click on the link for Advance Care Planning.
“Hospice providers are not only skilled at helping those coping with the challenges at the end of life, but they are excellent resources helping people prepare,” Schumacher continued.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice is a concept of caring that emphasizes palliative (comfort)
rather than curative treatment; quality rather than quantity of
life. The dying are comforted. Professional medical care is given,
and sophisticated symptom relief provided. The patient and family
are both included in the care plan and emotional, spiritual and
practical support is given based on the patient’s wishes and
family’s needs. Trained volunteers can offer respite care
for family members as well as meaningful support to the patient.
Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. Hospice
neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice provides personalized
services and a caring community so that patients and families can
attain the necessary preparation for a death that is satisfactory
to them.
Those involved in the process of dying have a variety of physical,
spiritual, emotional and social needs. The nature of dying is so
unique that the goal of the hospice team is to be sensitive and
responsive to the special requirements of each individual and family.
Hospice care is provided to patients who have a limited life expectancy.
Hospice cares for anyone regardless of age, type of illness, race,
gender, sexual orientation, or ability to pay. These patients have
also made a decision to spend their last months at home or in a
homelike setting.
Care is provided through an interdisciplinary team led by the patient's
own physician. This team approach to care typically includes a physician,
a nurse, a home health aide, a social worker, a chaplain and a volunteer.
Patients and their family members may decide to use every member
of the team, or only a select few.
The hospice nurse makes regularly scheduled visits to the patient
providing expert pain management and symptom control techniques.
Throughout the time that the patient is under the care of hospice,
the nurse keeps the primary physician informed of the patient's
condition. Nurses provide the complete spectrum of skilled nursing
care and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Home health aides provide assistance with the personal care of
the patient.
Social workers provide assistance with practical and financial
concerns as well as emotional support, counseling and bereavement
follow-up. They evaluate the need for volunteers and other support
services needed by the family and facilitate communication between
the family and community agencies.
Chaplains provide spiritual support to patients and families, often
serving as a liaison between them and their religious community.
Chaplains often assist with memorial services and funeral arrangements.
The hospice team is available to assist patients and families in
exploring the option of hospice care. For more information please
call Hospice of Kitsap County at (360) 698-4611.
The Goals of Hospice Care:
- To support quality of life at the end of life by allowing patients
and their loved ones to make choices about what is important to
them.
- To provide effective pain control and symptom management.
- To help the patient and loved ones resolve end-of-life issues.
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