Celebrate home care and hospice staff in November

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and its affiliate Hospice Association of America dedicate the month of November to  honor and celebrate the nurses, caregivers, therapists, aides and other professionals who care for the seniors and infirm in the segment of long-term care.

This year’s National Home Care and Hospice Month themes are “Home is the Center of Health Care” and “Hospice + Love in Action.” The association also suggests that this is an opportune time to advocate for seniors with your community’s elected officials. “It is highly appropriate in November that we celebrate the nurses, therapists, aides and other providers who choose to use their lives to serve our country’s aged, disabled and dying. No work is nobler, and no group is more deserving of our respect and admiration,” said NAHC President Val J. Halamandaris.

The NAHC website has a series of downloadable posters to display in your facility. If your organization provides hospice services, NAHC offers a number of suggestions to celebrate these generous and compassionate people. Start a ribbon-wearing campaign. Ribbons can be pinned on clothing staff and visitors’ clothing to show support for hospice and its role in the end-of-life movement. Another idea is to host a public open house to answer questions people in the community may have about hospice.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.