November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

Posted 24 November 2017 at 3:38 pm

Editor:

All over the United States, every year, nearly 1.4 million people faced with advanced and life limiting illnesses and their families are being supported by hospice and palliative care organizations.

In Western New York, patients and families can count on five skilled organizations who are standing ready to provide help and outstanding care. Last year, collectively, our organizations served more than 6,100 families in Orleans, Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties.

Our teams of dedicated, highly skilled and compassionate staff work alongside volunteers and caregivers through a collaborative, holistic model of care. Our physicians, registered nurses, home health aides, and other members of our clinical teams work together with our patients and families to develop a customized plan of care that helps to ensure that pain and symptoms are well managed, and emotional, spiritual, and relationship needs are addressed.

Ensuring that a person is in control of their journey is key to providing excellent quality of care during a time when facing a serious illness or the end of life. To accomplish this personalized support, each of our organizations provides individualized care that is tailored to meet the goals and desires of the patient and his/her family. Services may be offered at home, in a hospice residence, assisted living, skilled nursing facility, or an in-patient unit.

We encourage you to learn more about hospice and palliative care services in your community. You may find the comfort, peace, and help you are looking for if you or a family member are faced with a serious or life limiting illness. You may also find a place to share your time and talents or to make a financial gift that impacts hundreds of your neighbors every day.

Hospice and palliative care is about living…living each day to its fullest, spending time creating a journey that is uniquely yours.

Sincerely,

Kellie Spychalski, MHA, CEO – Supportive Care and Hospice of Orleans, Inc.

Shauna Anderson, RN, CEO – Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care

Chris Kerr, MD, CEO – Hospice Buffalo

John Lomeo, CEO – Niagara Hospice

Carol Mahoney, CEO – Home Care & Hospice (Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany & Cattaraugus Counties)