Dignity and respect through advanced illness with palliative care

According to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Charlotte Region (HPCCR), “Facing a serious illness is difficult.  But even through the challenges, you have the right to live your life with dignity and respect.  You deserve exceptional care and a team who can offer you the best quality of life possible.”

This Charlotte organization is one group working to improve both the quality of care and quality of life for patients and their families. For many, being as comfortable as possible during advanced stages of illness is the kind of care they want and deserve.

Hospice care is quality care

HPCCR is part of a growing movement that is working to ensure that all those with advanced illness, especially the sickest and most vulnerable, receive comprehensive, high-quality, person- and family-centered care that is consistent with their goals and values and honors their dignity.

HPCC states that “Hospice can help individuals and families coping with a life-limiting illness define what is important to them.  Hospice is about making the most of each day and enjoying the best quality of life possible.  It's about meeting the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of individuals and their families.”

Patient and Family Choice

The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (CTAC) is a national organization working to empower consumers, change the health delivery system, improve public and private policies, and enhance provider capacity. CTAC cites that, “Over the next two decades, the number of people over 65 will nearly double to more than 72 million, or one in five Americans. The vast majority of people with advanced illness will be in this age group, though people with advanced illness exist from birth to old age. They will grapple with multiple conditions that interact in complex ways and will face a fragmented system, with care that is often uncoordinated and confusing.”

This week, on “Without Limits,” you’ll learn more about the benefits of palliative care and hear from Larry Dawalt of HPCCR as he talks about end-of-life issues and how families can prepare.

You can listen to the program live or online, Saturdays at 6:00 pm on WBT radio, or you can listen to this, or any program, on the

Without Limits program archives.

 

Photos from HPCCR