AMERICUS — November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time Phoebe Sumter Hospice and other hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about the highest quality care for all people coping with life-limiting illness.
“Every year, nearly 1.6 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 ensure that patients and families find dignity, respect, and love during life’s most difficult journey.”
Hospice care provides pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. Dr. Michael Raines, medical director at Phoebe Sumter, feels “caring for patients and making family memories are why we do what we do. They are like our family and that is how I treat them.”
Hospice services combine the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life. Through this specialized quality of care, many patients and their families experience more meaningful moments together. Hospice helps them focus on living despite a terminal diagnoses.
Carol Hudson, Hospice board chairman, said, “This is my community and Phoebe Sumter Hospice is here to support us during the journey both with home hospice and inpatient when needed. The hospice board helps with our community hospice needs with memorial and other community donations.”
Susie Henderson, a hospice volunteer at Phoebe Sumter Hospice said, “I have used the services of Phoebe Sumter Hospice with a loved one. Hospice was there for me at a difficult time in my life, and the hospice staff provided the highest quality of medical care along with love for the patient and me. Why do I volunteer for hospice? To help give back to others, both my mother and I volunteer.”
Phoebe Sumter Hospice recently hosted a volunteers and board members luncheon to say thank you for serving the community with hours of care support. The Hospice board wants to help the community understand how important hospice care can be.
“This local hospice is a nonprofit that started here in Americus by interested and caring members of this community,” reminded Bill Sheppard, Phoebe Sumter Hospice board member.
For more information about Phoebe Sumter Hospice, advance care planning, or how to volunteer contact Nyla Franklin, hospice director, at 229-928-4000.