November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month:
The month of November is nationally recognized as Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Hospice organizations such as the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) as well as hospice and palliative care agencies across the country host events to increase awareness of palliative care and hospice.
Hospice care helps patients and families focus on living. This is the message that hospice organizations are sharing with the community during National Hospice/Palliative Care Month.
Hospice and Palliative Care Month 2010 -- Seasons of Caring:
This year's Seasons of Caring theme reminds people that life’s final seasons can be some of the most fulfilling, especially when patients and families look to hospice and palliative care for help.
“There’s an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you’ve given up,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of NHPCO. “Those of us who have worked in the field have seen firsthand how hospice and palliative care can improve the quality of life. And there’s a growing body of research showing that hospice and palliative care may prolong the lives of some people who receive care.”
How You Can Participate:
If you are a hospice organization, you can use this opportunity to raise awareness of hospice and palliative care within your community. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Association has media talking points on the website that agencies can use to spread the word about hospice on radio, newspaper, and television. Some agencies host special fund raiser events in the month of November to raise awareness. Many agencies also use the month to celebrate employees, volunteers, and caregivers that provide loving care to patients.
As an individual, you can celebrate the month by making a donation to your local hospice or the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA). The HFA is dedicated to promoting hospice and palliative care and supporting agencies across America. To make a donation to HFA, visit their website at http://www.hospicefoundation.org.
