Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue recently signed a proclamation making the month of November National Hospice Month. Interim HealthCare Hospice officials hold up the document for all to see during the nonprofit group's open house last Friday. Every moment of life is considered precious, with any one of them possibly being the last.

Learning a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness can be difficult news for a family to handle. However, its always good to know someone is there to listen and offer support.

Designed to give symptom relief and comfort for those nearing the end of their lives, hospices provide medical, nursing, social and spiritual care. Hoping to raise awareness of their job of making life’s final days memorable and less difficult, facilities across the country commemorated National Hospice Month.

One of those holding events locally was Interim HealthCare Hospice, hosting seminars and inviting county residents to an open house at its Blacksburg offices.

“We wanted people to be aware that we were here and that we are willing to do all we can for families during their family member’s final days and the period after their death,” said Interim HealthCare Hospice Director Nancy Dereng.

The Christian-based organization has offered services to county residents for the past 13 years, offering health care options for those fighting terminal illnesses and their families by providing nursing visits, pain and symptom management and crisis care. In addition, Interim gives bereavement counseling for 13 months following the loss of a loved one.

“Hospice is not just for the last days of life, we can be there for the end stages and thereafter,” Dereng said. “There is so much we can do.”

However, the group wants to do more. In cooperation with Cherokee County Community Care, a program developed by Blacksburg’s Iron City Ministries, Interim has begun the planning process toward a hospice house being built in Cherokee County.

“Citizens of Cherokee County do not have their own hospice facility, leaving many families with a long distance to travel when their loved one requires care in a hospice house,” Interim HealthCare Hospice and Cherokee County Community Care said in a joint statement. “Our dream is to build a ‘home’ away from home but close to home for those in need of this special kind of care at the end of life.”

No immediate plans have been made in relation to construction of a hospice house locally, but the organizations have already started looking for help in making the vision a reality. Cited as needs by the two local nonprofit groups are the donation of land and general funds, in addition to volunteers to assist in community outreach and awareness efforts.