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.
