One thing we

all have in common is the fact that somehow, some day, we are all going

to die.

For most, although

it is inevitable, thinking and planning for death is avoided. It is human

nature to shy away from something most consider disagreeable. We may be

superstitious - if we think about it or plan for it, we somehow may bring

it to our doorstep faster.

Some have a

cavalier attitude - it's going to happen someday, why worry about it?

Some are fearful of death, others are more fearful of suffering beforehand.

As a rule the

vast majority think of death as something unpleasant to consider at best.

A recent study

to talk to their children about drugs and sex than to talk to their elderly

parents about terminal illness and death. Most of us have some ideas regarding

how we would like to spend our final stage of life, however we rarely

share our thoughts with family members.

We are often

unprepared for the stresses, both physical and emotional, that affect

those who face death. Additionally, while we may have some thoughts about

how we would like to be taken care of in the event we face a terminal

illness, only 24 percent of us have put something in writing and only

35 percent have told someone else how they prefer to be cared for, per

the study.

National Hospice

month is sponsored by the Hospice Association of America to honor "Hospice:

Dignity, Comfort & Inner Peace." The month long celebration pays

tribute to hospice providers and "serves as a means of increasing

public awareness about choices in end-of-life care that are available

to the community," per Hospice Association literature.

"All too

often people facing terminal illness don't know where to turn for comfort

and support," said Mary Jo Wilson, Portsbridge Hospice administrator.

"Our goal is to diminish the fears that make people reluctant to

talk about death and to let them know about the supportive, compassionate

and pain-relieving services that hospice provides."

Resources:

Portsbridge

Hospice an organization dedicated to the care of patients with life limiting

illnesses. The focus of care is comfort rather than cure.

115 Huntington

Park Drive

Fayetteville,

Georgia 30214

770-716-5545

www.portsbridgehospice.com

Southwest Christian

Hospice and Hope House a non-profit ministry providing quality hospice

health care at no cost to patients or their families.

7225 Lester

Road

Union City,

Georgia 30291

770-969-8354

www.swchospice.org/

Hospice Net

Suite 51

01 Bowling

Ave.

Nashville,

Tennessee 37205

https://www.hospicenet.org/

For patients

and families facing life-threatening illness, Hospice Net is an independent,

nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization working exclusively through the Internet.

American Hospice

Foundation

2120 L Street,

NW

Suite 200

Washington,

DC 20037

202-223-0204

E-mail: [email protected]

www.americanhospice.org/

The American

Hospice Foundation aids programs that serve the needs of terminally ill

and grieving individuals of all ages.

American Academy

of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

The AAHPM is

an organization of physicians and other medical professionals dedicated

to excellence in palliative medicine, the prevention and relief of suffering

among patients and families by providing education and clinical practice

standards, fostering research, facilitating personal and professional

development of its member and by public policy advocacy.

4700 W. Lake

Ave.

Glenview, IL

60025-1485

(847) 375-4712

https://www.aahpm.org/

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