Hospice of Michigan Raises Awareness During Hospice and Palliative Care Month

DETROIT, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and Hospice of Michigan, the original and most comprehensive hospice program in Michigan, is making strides to reach out to Michigan residents to help make a difference for families experiencing the stress that inevitably arises at the end of life.  

By raising awareness of its services, Hospice of Michigan's goal is to help patients and their caregivers assess the need for hospice services and create a quality of life for the end of life regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.  Hospice care can ease the suffering for the patient, reduce the burden on caregivers, and significantly reduce costs for families and insurance companies.

Over 35,000 individuals in Michigan alone are unaware of the hospice options available to them.  Hospice of Michigan encourages these 35,000 eligible citizens to seek the needed professional care that will make patients more comfortable and their caretakers more confident and less overwhelmed.

"We're working hard year round to make sure people understand that support, comfort and respect are available to them at a time when hope seems out of reach," said Dottie Deremo, President and CEO of Hospice of Michigan. "Yet during November, we ramp up our efforts even further to raise awareness of the high-quality care that's available during one of life's most challenging times."

Hospice of Michigan has created a comprehensive team of specialists in areas including pediatric hospice, advanced dementia, AIDS, pain management and research.  It has trained more palliative care professionals than any other organization in the state and can provide expertise in pain management, symptom control, psycho-social support and specialized spiritual care to patients and families when a cure is not possible.  The organization also offers outreach programs for the African American and Muslim communities and special programs for the Jewish community and for veterans.

"It's all about quality of life. With the help of Hospice of Michigan, patients and families can focus on what's most important, living as comfortably and as happily as possible in spite of illness," said Dr. Michael Paletta, Hospice of Michigan's Vice President of Medical Affairs and Executive Director for the Maggie Allesee Center for Quality of Life.

"There's an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you've given up," said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. "Those of us who have worked in the field have seen firsthand how hospice and palliative care can improve the quality of life. And there's a growing body of research showing that hospice and palliative care may prolong the lives of some people who receive hospice care."

To find out more about hospice and palliative care contact Hospice of Michigan at 888-247-5701 or visit the website at www.hom.org.

About Hospice of Michigan

A nationally recognized leader in compassionate hospice care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the first, largest and most comprehensive hospice program in Michigan. It is the second oldest hospice organization in America and differentiates itself through its deep commitment to the education and training of its staff. HOM has trained more palliative care professionals than any other organization in the state and also provides valuable resources and educational tools to support the public need for information on important end-of-life care issues.

Hospice of Michigan serves over 4,500 patients annually in 54 counties in Michigan.  Its Maggie Allesee Center for Quality of Life is a one-of-a-kind facility that celebrates life by developing unique programs that improve care and enhance quality of life for elderly and end-of-life patients and their families.

SOURCE Hospice of Michigan