National Hospice Month

by Tra Perry, Volunteer Coordinator

Each November The National Association for Hospice celebrates National Hospice Month to honor health care administrators, nurses, therapists, aides, volunteers, chaplains and the many individuals and groups who make a remarkable difference in the lives of patients and their families.

Hospice Honors Volunteers

Helping frail and dying Americans to stay independent and happy in their homes is a goal of University Home Health and Hospice, the first multi-county rural hospice in the US begun in 1949. Originally serving four counties as Roanoke-Chowan Hospice, this non-profit organization has expanded its' service area to include surrounding counties while maintaining the basic mission of providing the very best quality of life and care possible to the terminally ill.

Hospice Staff - Angie Lassiter, Judy Perry And Kay Russell

Hospice teams consist of lay people and professionals who are qualified to help with end- of- life-issues. They offer pain management, therapy and other supportive services at home or in home-like surroundings, making it easier for patients, loved ones and family members to spend times together in one's final days. Hospice also offers grief counseling to the families after their loss.

A Loving Relationship - Alma Suis And Her Hospice Nurse, Judy Perry

While a patient must have an expected prognosis of six months or longer, depending on the course of the illness, many Americans do not understand this and wait unnecessarily before seeking care. Hospice is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans and HMOS.

The peace of mind that hospice offers to the families' in knowing that an experience, caring, qualified person can be called 24 hours of the day, seven days a week to come to one's home whenever there is a need for spiritual, emotional, physical counseling or help is incredible. Not many people can fully understand or appreciate what hospice can do until their family has been touched personally by hospice love.

Tra Perry, Volunteer Coordinator Recognizes Norma Lassiter, Governor's Award For Outstanding Volunteer Service

At University Home Health and Hospice, we hear families say over and over "We wish we had had Hospice sooner, we just didn't know the services it offered." National Hospice Month offers an opportunity to spread the word and broaden Hospice awareness to citizens throughout our communities.

Dame Cecily Saunder of St. Christopher's Hospice in London England explains Hospice care beautifully when she wrote- "You matter because you are, you matter to the last moment of your life and we will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die".