Hospices trying to raise awareness about care issues

November is National Hospice Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about important care issues for people coping with life-limiting illness.

"Our goal is to reach out to our community to provide awareness about the wonderful services that hospice can provide to the patient and family," said Hospice Care of South Carolina's Community Relations Director, Amanda Knowles. "We have a local team of highly-trained professionals working to make sure our patients and families find dignity, respect, and love during life's most difficult journey."

Hospice is more than traditional healthcare. Hospice and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. Hospice and palliative care combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life.

As Laura Faulkner, Staff Nurse for Hospice Care of South Carolina noted, "It is the most fulfilling nursing job I've ever done. Working with families at this difficult time in their lives and being the person that helps them cope is rewarding."