Community Health Library

November is National Hospice / Palliative Care Month

Hospice is end-of-life care that is typically given to a patient who is expected to live 6 months or less. The goal of hospice care is to provide peace, comfort, and dignity to the patient. It can occur at home, a hospice center, a hospital, or a skilled nursing facility.

Palliative care relieves the symptoms of a disease without curing the disease. Hospice care always includes palliative care, but palliative care can be provided outside of a hospice setting at any stage of a disease. The goal of palliative care is to make the patient comfortable and improve his or her quality of life.

Books:

	Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life By Maggie Callanan From supporting a husband or wife faced with the loss of a spouse to helping a dying mother prepare her children to carry on without her, Callanan’s poignant stories illustrate new ways to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of this difficult and precious time. She brings welcome clarity to medical and ethical concerns, explaining what to expect at every stage.
	Good End: End-of-Life Concerns and Conversations about Hospice and Palliative Care By Michael Appleton, M.D. The prospect of dying can be overwhelming, whether it's happening to you, a family member, or a friend. In Good End, Dr. Michael Appleton addresses questions about hospice care and end-of-life issues with compassion and honesty. This is a must read for patients and families who are on hospice or considering hospice care.
	To Die Well: Your Right to Comfort, Calm, and Choice in the Last Days of Life By Sidney Wanzer, M.D. & Joseph Glenmullen, M.D. The knowledge provided in this book is both comforting and powerful. Compassion and reassurance blend with direct, honest fact in this book that every one of us should have before it is needed for ourselves or our families.

Websites:


Hospice Care - Administration on Aging

Hospice Care: Comforting the Terminally Ill - Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Palliative Care: Improving Quality of Life When You're Seriously Ill - National Institute of Nursing Research (PDF)

What Should You Know About Palliative Care - Center to Advance Palliative Care (PDF)


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