Stories from Families Show Hospice Is About More than Death
June 20, 2014
In celebrating the 40th anniversary of hospice care in the United States, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is excited to introduce a new national campaign, “Moments of Life: Made Possible by Hospice,” that will show all Americans that hospice focuses on living and enables special moments and memories at the end of life for patients and loved ones.
A father’s final wedding dance with his daughter, a veteran’s visit to the WWII Memorial, the opportunity to bring an infant daughter home, an afternoon tea party with grandchildren – these are only some of the moments made possible by hospice.
The Moments of Life awareness campaign will feature stories, gathered by hospices across the country, of patients and families experiencing hospice care first hand. The stories will take the form of videos, photos and audio recordings. And, it will offer a vibrant cross-section of different perspectives of hospice.
“In this campaign, we are looking for real stories that show patients’ abilities to do more as a result of their experience in hospice,” said Anita Brikman, senior vice president of communications for NHPCO. “These stories show America that even when you are dying, there is still a lot of living to do.”
For many who have not seen hospice in action, it is a common misconception that hospice patients are merely lying in bed, waiting for the end to come. For families who have experienced hospice, they see the focus is not on dying—it is about embracing and enjoying the remaining moments, thanks to this high-quality, team-based model of care.
“Through the ‘Moments of Life: Made Possible by Hospice’ campaign, NHPCO is working with the entire hospice community to show that hospice helps people obtain the end-of-life care they prefer at home, free of pain, surrounded by loved ones,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO.
For more information visit the new Moments of Life microsite at www.momentsoflife.org.
HPCG, a nonprofit organization serving Guilford County and surrounding areas for more than 33 years, is situated on a 14.75 campus at 2500 Summit Avenue. HPCG provides physical, emotional and spiritual support for children and adults faced with a life-limiting illness, as well as their caregivers and families. For more information, contact HPCG at 336.621.2500 or visit www.hospicegso.org.
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