Promoting National Hospice Palliative Care Month are: (from left) Madison County commissioners Mark Forrest, David Dhume and Paul Gross; and Loving Care Hospice representatives Aimee Blumenschein and Tiffaney Lee.
(Posted Oct. 29, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
“Through pain management and symptom control, caregiver training and assistance, and emotional and spiritual support, hospice allows patients with life-limiting illness to live fully and make more meaningful moments until the end of life, surrounded and supported by loved ones, friends and committed caregivers.”
This paragraph, part of a proclamation the Madison County commissioners signed on Oct. 26 in recognition of November as National Hospice Palliative Care Month, sums up what hospice is all about.
“It’s a tough subject,” said Aimee Blumenschein, hospice and palliative clinical coordinator for Loving Care Hospice. But, she continued, it’s a subject that once acknowledged allows patients and their families to go through the end-of-life experience with some measure of comfort and peace.
Loving Care, with offices in London and Marysville, is promoting awareness of hospice care with special events and displays throughout November.
In addition to a display on the county courthouse lawn in London, Loving Care is holding its annual fall fundraiser this month. The dinner and auction is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at Tolles Career and Technical Center, 7877 U.S. Route 42 South, Plain City. The theme is “Seasons of Joy” and will feature Christmas music.
The cost to attend the fundraiser is $35 and includes dinner catered by Der Dutchman Restaurant. Among the more than 100 items up for bid in the auction are tickets to Disney World and stays at condos in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and Hilton Head, S.C.
Last year, through fundraisers, United Way funds and private donations, Loving Care raised $140,000 to offset the cost of care for patients with insufficient insurance or no hospice benefits.
“With that money, we were able to reach 109 patients in 2014,” said Tiffaney Lee, marketing coordinator.
Loving Care Hospice and Home Health has been in operation locally since 1993. For more information, call (740) 852-7755. The London office is located at 56 S. Oak St.
