Hospice & Palliative Care Month
Hospice of the North Country Recognizes National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, Honoring End-of-Life Care and Compassion
This November, Hospice of the North Country proudly joins thousands of hospice and palliative care providers across the country in recognizing National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. As a leading provider of compassionate end-of-life care, Hospice of the North Country is dedicated to honoring the lives of patients while supporting their families through the journey of terminal illness.
The non-profit has adapted the theme, "Embracing the Journey Together", highlighting the vital role hospice and palliative care play in the lives of millions of Americans. Hospice care goes beyond addressing physical symptoms; it offers emotional, spiritual, and practical support tailored to each patient’s individual needs, helping them live as fully as possible, even in the face of a life-limiting illness.
"As we commemorate National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we want to remind our community of the importance of personalized, compassionate care," said Natalie Whitehurst, CEO of Hospice of the North Country. "We are committed to providing comfort and dignity to our patients while supporting their families during one of life’s most challenging times."
Why Hospice and Palliative Care Matter
Hospice care is available to people of all ages, focusing on improving the quality of life for patients in their final months. Palliative care, on the other hand, is available at any stage of illness and can be provided alongside curative treatment, offering relief from symptoms and stress. With a team approach, hospice and palliative care services include:
Expert pain and symptom management
Emotional and spiritual support
Care coordination among healthcare providers
Assistance with advance care planning
Bereavement and grief support for families
Hospice of the North Country’s Commitment to the Community and Quality
Since 1992, Hospice of the North Country has been a trusted partner to families throughout the North Country, providing compassionate care for those facing terminal illness. With a team of dedicated professionals including physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers, every patient’s unique needs and wishes are respected. Hospice of the North Country is proud to be named as a Prestigious Hospice CAHPS Honors Elite Recipient for multiple years. This prestigious annual review recognizes agencies that continuously go above and beyond in providing high-quality care for patients and compassionate caregiver experiences. It acknowledges the highest performing agencies by analyzing the performance of the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey satisfaction and quality measures. "Our team is devoted to ensuring that every person facing a life-limiting illness receives the care, comfort, and dignity they deserve," continued Whitehurst. "During National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we not only reflect on the importance of our work but also reaffirm our commitment to being there for families when they need us most. It's about providing support, compassion, and hope in the midst of challenging times."
The term “hospice” (from the same linguistic root as “hospitality”) can be traced back to medieval times when it referred to a place of shelter and rest for weary or ill travelers on a long journey. The name was first applied to specialized care for dying patients by physician Dame Cicely Saunders, who began her work with the terminally ill in 1948 and eventually went on to create the first modern hospice—St. Christopher’s Hospice—in a residential suburb of London.
Saunders introduced the idea of specialized care for the dying to the United States during a 1963 visit with Yale University. Her lecture, given to medical students, nurses, social workers, and chaplains about the concept of holistic hospice care, included photos of terminally ill cancer patients and their families, showing the dramatic differences before and after the symptom control care.
For more information about hospice and palliative care or to speak with a representative from Hospice of the North Country, please visit hospicenc.org or call 518.561.8465 or 518.483.3200.