United Way Caring And Sharing Hospice of Wilkes Regional Medical Center

11/8/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tammy G. Love

Director of Marketing & Medical Staff Development

Phone: (336) 651-8116

Hospice is a team of professionals gifted in helping others face illness, disability and death. This team of compassionate caregivers provides physical, emotional, social and spiritual support to the patient and family. Hospice actually becomes an extension of the patient's family, giving care and comfort in the home, nursing home or hospital while promoting personal dignity.

Skilled nursing care, through specialized training, provides pain control and comfort measures while certified nursing assistants help with personal care. Social workers assist families in finding resources for financial, social and emotional needs. The Hospice Chaplain provides spiritual care in conjunction with the patient's or family's pastor, church or spiritual affiliation.

The Continuing Family Support Counselor provides emotional support and counseling care through the first year of bereavement with personal contact, support groups and teaching and materials regarding grief and loss. Camp Evergreen is a day camp held each year in October to provide support for children and teens from ages six to seventeen. Participants enjoy activities that are designed to teach and apply skills for coping with difficult feelings that are normal for loss and grief.

A volunteer support network, through Hospice's Volunteer Coordinator, assist the patient, family or primary caregiver with companionship, running errands and household chores in order to maintain each one's lifestyle as much as possible. Volunteers help meet special needs in the home for the patient and family, especially when they are unable to do so.

Together, the Hospice team, Medical Director, patient physician and family develop a plan of care suited for comfort and dignity. The goal is to provide for end of life care that allows the patient to remain at home with family and familiar surroundings with the utmost quality of care.

New programs utilizing United Way, donations and other financial gifts, may allow for Hospice to provide care for those whose prognosis is more than six months and who are still undergoing treatment. The Life Transitions program provides casework assistance for determining community resources for appropriate care. Patients may receive volunteer services for ongoing needs. Additionally, Hospice's Spiritual Care Program provides for weekly chaplain visits for comfort, prayer and discussion while consulting with the pastor and church that may be already involved in order to plan and implement every possible avenue of care.

Hospice referrals may be made by anyone with the support of the individual's physician. Should you or someone you know have questions or need care, you may call 336-903-7700. There is no reason to wait. Hospice is all about living.