To the editor:
November is National Hospice Palliative Care Month, a time to raise awareness about the specialized care that hospice and palliative care provide to patients and their families. Both focus on the patient’s needs, comfort, and quality of life.
Hospice teams provide care, support, and comfort for people with a serious illness who have a life expectancy of six months or less and when a cure may no longer be possible.
Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and stress of serious illness, can be provided at any age and any stage of the illness, and is available while receiving curative treatment.
This year’s National Hospice and Palliative Care Month theme is “Courageous Conversations,” which encourages discussions about the care patients wish to receive when facing a serious illness, and to do it before a crisis hits. Having courageous conversations can help patients and families develop personalized care plans that will meet their needs.
Since 1978, Care Dimensions has been a driving force in expanding access to hospice and palliative care. As the largest hospice in Massachusetts, Care Dimensions provides care for patients wherever they call “home”—private residences, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, group homes, and our hospice houses in Danvers and Lincoln.
If you or your loved one is facing a serious illness, do not hesitate to find out how hospice or palliative care can help. The sooner you get the care you need, the sooner you can benefit from an improved quality of life.
Stephanie Patel, MD, MBA, FAAHPM, HMDC
Care Dimensions President and CEO
