Overview
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Hospice is a type of care provided to terminally ill patients. Hospice caregivers work to provide patients with comfort and quality life as curative treatment is no longer feasible. Palliative care is medical care that focuses on relieving pain for patients living with a serious illness. Palliative care is about improving patients’ quality of life and can coincidence with curative treatment. National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is about recognizing how important hospice and palliative care programs are to patients and their loved ones. Each year a theme is put in place to shine light on a specific issue. The theme for the year 2021 is, “It’s About How You Live”. Hospice and palliative care programs provide essential care to patients, ensuring everyone no matter condition or illness can live a quality life. Essential care provided includes pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care. The help that is provided to patients and their loved ones is the highest quality of medical care and support when living with a serious illness. Across the nation Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) will celebrate National Hospice and Palliative Care Month by informing their community about the importance of hospice and palliative care. To find more information about hospice and palliative care for you or a loved one, visit caringinfo.org.
Facts About Hospice and Palliative Care
Hospice is a type of holistic care that focuses on treatment for the patient as a whole, including mental and social factors rather than just disease symptoms.
Hospice care takes place at home 95% of the time or in a hospice center.
Hospice can work alongside caregivers to ensure the patient and the caregiver are never alone.
Hospice is fully covered by Medicare, health plans and most Medicaid programs.
Hospice is about living a quality life with comfort, dignity, and respect and not about giving up.
Palliative care improves lives but, according to The World Health Organization, an estimated 14% of people who need palliative care currently receive it.
Hospice and Palliative care are for everyone no matter race, religion, ethnicity, culture, mental health status, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender expression.
References
1. “National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.” National Hospice and Palliative Care Month | National PACE Association, National PACE Association, https://www.npaonline.org/national-hospice-and-palliative-care-month.
2. “Hospice and Palliative Care: ‘It's About How You Live.’” Capital Caring Health, Capital Caring Health, 26 Aug. 2021, https://www.capitalcaring.org/its-about-how-you-live/.