Your Guide on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day: Everything You Need to Know
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is celebrated every second Saturday of October. This day helps raise awareness and push for more quality end-of-life services like senior home care and palliative and hospice care for people with serious health problems. For elderly people with serious health complications or conditions, it’s important to prioritize tailored care that suits their needs. With World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, the goal is to emphasize this sentiment.
To do our part in celebrating World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, we’ve created this article to raise awareness and build on the values of this holiday. This article will discuss the history and values of World Hospice and Palliative Care and cover the importance of tailored senior home care services.
What Is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was first created and celebrated back in 2005. It was created to unify, celebrate, support, and raise awareness about the global hospice and palliative care effort and need. Over 50 million people pass away annually; approximately 60% of these individuals would benefit from hospice and palliative care. The issue is that only some can access the senior home care services they need.
There are three primary goals of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.
- To raise awareness and increase the availability of hospice and palliative care throughout the world.
- To educate the masses about understanding the medical, social, practical, and spiritual needs of people living with complex illnesses and how hospice and palliative care can transform people’s lives and treat their symptoms.
- To raise funds to support and develop hospice and palliative care services worldwide.
This day focuses on emphasizing the role of hospice and palliative care services and how these services provide relief, comfort, and support to individuals and families. Similar to many senior home care services, the focus is on enhancing the quality of life of an older adult by taking care of their physical, emotional, medical, and other needs. This allows them to live their lives to the fullest with dignity and independence.
A Brief History of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was created in October of 2005 by a coalition of hospice and palliative care organizations worldwide. It was established to help raise awareness about the importance of hospice and palliative care while also educating people about the need for improved access to these services.
This global movement is celebrated with events, concerts, and activities that take place in countries worldwide. Each year, World Hospice and Palliative Care Day focuses on a specific theme or aspect of palliative care. The 2023 theme is Compassionate Communities. This year’s theme focuses on creating a community where people publicly encourage, support, and celebrate care for one another during difficult times.
By participating in World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, both individuals and organizations join a collective effort to ensure that people around the world, regardless of circumstances, have access to compassionate and dignified care as they age.
What Is Palliative and Hospice Care?
Many people in our society use both hospice and palliative care interchangeably, but they are very different. The goals of palliative and hospice care are the same: to provide patients with a comfortable, safe environment where their pain and symptoms are managed alongside other needs. The intent of care is where the difference lies.
The definition of hospice care is for compassionate comfort care for those facing a terminal illness that has a prognosis of six months or less. Patients who receive hospice care are not looking to “cure” their illness. The intent of this care is simply to make their pain and symptoms as manageable as possible.
While on the other hand, the intent of palliative care has more of a curative treatment aspect. Palliative care provides relief from the symptoms and physical and mental stress of a serious or life-limiting condition. There is more flexibility for when you can implement palliative care, whether at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, or towards the end.
Where Can Palliative and Hospice Care Be Done?
Another misconception often associated with palliative and hospice care is that it can only be administered in a facility or hospital. When, in fact, both of these care services can be provided at home. Financial support is also in place to help cover the cost of palliative and hospice care. Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance policies may cover some costs, but it’s best to check your coverage for specific details and eligibility.
Studies have shown home care support, and senior home care have a more significant and positive impact on a senior’s health when compared to nursing homes and facilities. Senior home care is capable of providing the necessary requirements required for palliative and hospice care.
Is There a Difference Between Palliative and Hospice Care and Senior Home Care?
Senior home care encompasses elements of both palliative care and hospice care. Various senior home care services are available, ranging from skilled nursing to medical social workers and more. One of the goals of palliative and hospice care is to provide personalized services to ensure elderly individuals have the support they need, which is also a goal of senior home care.
It’s important to ensure when selecting a senior home care provider to assist with palliative or hospice care that their staff is certified and capable of providing specialized medical care. One of the major differences between palliative and hospice care and general senior care is this technical component.
Senior home care can include many aspects ranging from companionship, light housekeeping, and assistance with daily living activities (ADLs), so finding a senior home care provider with certified nurses on staff is essential for palliative and hospice care.
Let Your Loved One Age With Grace and Comfort in Their Home With Saint George Home Health Services
Tailored and compassionate care is fundamental to aging with grace and is the primary goal of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Senior home care allows seniors to age the way they desire in a familiar and comfortable environment – their home. Unsurprisingly, over 90% of adults over 65 prefer to stay in their homes as they age. Here at Saint George Home Health, we understand the difficult predicament this can pose for families. It is difficult for both parties to find a balance between wanting to remain at home and their health and safety. But this is where we can help.
Our team of certified nurses and therapists offers an array of senior home care services that can be tailored and customized to the senior in your life. To learn more about our personalized senior home care services, contact us at (818)-369-1167 or book a free consultation today.
