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Dear community friends and supporters,
Palliative Care is often confused with
Hospice Care; however, the two are not
the same although many of the principles
are similar. Hospice, through a team approach,
provides care to people who have been
diagnosed with a terminal illness who no
longer seek curative or life prolonging
treatments and have a life expectancy of six
months or less. Recently, I read an article
titled “Comfort Connection” by Dr. Diane
Meier. Dr. Meier describes Palliative Care as “a
means of soothing the symptoms of a disease,
regardless of whether a patient is seeking a cure.”
The purpose is to achieve comfort while focusing on
quality of life.
Palliative Care includes the concept of connection that is at the heart of
Hospice Care. Palliative Care respects the goals of the patients while they
are treating their illness and integrates the emotional, social and spiritual
aspects that are important to the support and healing of the whole person.
It includes understanding the goals of patients while addressing their fears
and supporting their caregivers. The Palliative Care Team requires
dedication and strength to form connections that might go outside of the
actual medical treatment plan. This relationship requires honest
communication. It requires providing care “outside the box” in order to
meet the goals and needs of the individual, not only the medical
community. It focuses on treating the disease, but also on treating the
person. Both Hospice and Palliative Care provide a holistic approach to
healing. Palliative Care expands the boundaries of Hospice to include those
seeking a cure or who have a prognosis of greater than six months.
Through the holistic approach, the aim is to provide care to challenging
cases, providing emotional support and spiritual support while patients and
families are undergoing treatment. This combines the medical model of
care with the spiritual and emotional care that support true healing. This
model embraces comfort, compassion, care, and cure.The interdisciplinary
team approach to patients and their families generates a feeling of trust and
safety. It holds the goals and the needs of the patient as the primary
priority. It is patient-focused, family-centered care.
I would like to thank my staff and volunteers for providing excellent Hospice and Palliative Care to those in Northeastern Connecticut. Our staff cares deeply for their patients and families and is unafraid to make connections and extend themselves. They are skilled, compassionate and work from their hearts. Our staff provides a level of care that I have never seen exceeded. Thank you all for your continuing commitment to and support of our mission and purpose.
Peace to all, at year-end and always,
Carol Emmerthal, RN, BSN, Associate Director, Hospice
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