Hospice isn't just about end-of-life care

More than providing direct patient care, hospices engage with their communities, promote well-being

A dessert contest featuring fancy chocolates and cakes to raise funds for a good cause, a fun athletic competition featuring in-door volleyball and a softball toss to promote healthy activity among older seniors, special ceremonies featuring commemorative certificates and pins to honor veterans, and workshops that feature companion animals to demonstrate the positive impact pets have on the healing process … look closely and you’re likely to see hospice providers involved.

Thanks to education and outreach efforts by hospice organizations throughout the country during the past decade, awareness in and access to hospice care is on the rise. Many people now have a good understanding that the term hospice refers to end-of-life care — the comfort-focused care provided to a patient who has a life expectancy prognosis of six months or less.

On the other hand, most people might be surprised to see how dynamic hospice providers have become in their efforts to engage with their communities to promote overall health and well-being.

For some time now, hospice providers have been expanding their efforts to help make every moment count for patients and their loved ones. Expert medical personnel and compassionate direct-care team members are still at the heart of hospice care and continue to meet the needs of patients by delivering the latest advancements in hospice and palliative care. But it’s truly a team approach. From volunteers who are ready and willing to run small errands for patients or just sit nearby to keep them company, to social workers and other care team members who help bring music and pet companionship to patients and respite care to families, to spiritual directors who can be engaged as needed, hospice providers are proactive in responding to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families.

Look out into the community today, however, and you’ll also see hospice providers offering memorial services, providing the latest information on grief recovery and advanced care directives, and working together with other community organizations on health-focused programs and events. Hospice providers are active beyond providing high quality direct patient care.

For example, in any given month you can find hospice providers offering support groups in various locations throughout the community on topics ranging from the benefits of art or pets to the importance of nutrition and exercise in the grief recovery process. With these support groups, you’ll find that there is an emphasis on addressing the latest research and providing information and education that can help the individual and the community.

You can also see hospice providers active throughout the community providing memorial services for families and loved ones, coordinating special recognitions for veterans throughout the year and on Veterans Day, and serving as points of contact on advance care planning on National Healthcare Decisions Day … all in an effort to “be there” for the community.

And it’s not just their own events, hospice providers are quick to step up and support the efforts of other care organizations, such as “Sweet Wars” dessert contests that raise funds for good causes, “Senior Olympics” athletic competitions that promote good health among older seniors, and variety of fun walk/runs and health fairs that feature healthy lifestyles. Whether it’s help in promoting, coordinating or sponsoring, hospice providers step up to the plate to support community wellness activities.

Yes it’s true, hospice providers are focused on delivering high quality care to patients and providing comfort to loved ones. But they also are becoming more and more engaged in the community to help promote and ensure its overall health and well-being.

Eva Sylvester is the Executive Director at Samaritan Care Hospice of Florida