Chester River Home Care & Hospice Celebrates National Home Care and Hospice Month
November is National Home Care and Hospice Month and agencies across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about these important health care services. “Home care provides the bridge between illness, injury or surgery and recovery in the comfort and privacy of the patient’s home,“ stated Sam Ricketts, RNC, Community Educator, Chester River Home Care & Hospice. Last year Chester River Home Care & Hospice helped almost 800 patients with home care. Technological advances and skilled health care professionals make it possible for these patients to receive nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapies; social work intervention; and personal care services at home. Home care patients receive a personal treatment plan developed in consultation with their physician after experiencing an accident, illness, surgery or injury.
Hospice offers pain and symptom control, dignity, and spiritual and emotional care for both persons facing the end of life and their loved ones when a cure is not possible. Individuals with a life-limiting illness or a prognosis of six months or less are eligible to receive hospice services. Hospice serves patients and family members who are coping with cancer, cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal diseases and other chronic diseases such as ALS, dementia and Alzheimer’s. “Hospice combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life,” commented Ms. Ricketts. Every day professionals at Chester River Home Care & Hospice are helping patients live each day to the fullest with expertise and compassion. In the past year 104 people throughout Kent and Queen Anne’s counties with life limiting illness received hospice services from Chester River Home Care & Hospice’s trained care providers and volunteers. As a hospice family wrote about hospice services last year, “You were the angels. We couldn’t have gotten through it without your help.” This number represents a dramatic increase over recent years, which the staff attributes to better community education and a greater desire for comfort and dignity at life’s end. The community is embracing the hospice philosophy: It’s About How You Live.
For more information about home care, hospice, your eligibility for either home care or hospice contact Chester River Home Care & Hospice, at 410.778.1049 for a confidential conversation about your specific needs.
