For Immediate Release:                                                                                                                                                                             

Monday, November 5, 2018                                                                                                                                                     

Raising Awareness of the Benefits of Hospice and Palliative Care

Hospice of San Joaquin Celebrates November’s National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

(Stockton, CA) – Hospice is not a place but is high-quality care that enables patients and families to focus on living as fully as possible despite a life-limiting illness. Pacific Palliative care brings this holistic model of care to people earlier in the course of a serious illness. November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospice and palliative care programs across the country are reaching out to help people understand all that hospice and palliative care offer.

In recent months, a number of notable Americans have died. They include Senator John McCain, the queen of soul Aretha Franklin, and former first lady Barbara Bush. In many media reports, they were described as having “given up” on curative care late in their lives. Ms. Franklin opted for hospice care; Mrs. Bush received what was described as “comfort care.”

It is essential that people understand that hospice and palliative care is not giving up, it is not the abandonment of care, it is not reserved for the imminently dying,” said Edo Banach, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “Hospice is a successful model of person-centered care that brings hope, dignity and compassion when they are most needed.

Every year, nearly 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries receive care from hospices in this country, reports NHPCO. Hospice and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their family caregivers when a cure is not possible.

Throughout the month of November, Hospice of San Joaquin will be joining organizations across the nation hosting activities that will help the community understand and raise awareness how important hospice and palliative care can be. 

For more information about hospice, Pacific Palliative care, and advance care planning please visit our website at www.hospicesj.org or call our office at 209-957-3888.

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