November is National Hospice Month, a time to raise awareness of quality care at the end of life.

Karol Watson, Hospice of Pella Manager, says they focus on helping a person with a serious or life-limiting illness by addressing issues causing physical or emotional pain and suffering.

“Hospice care is a palliative in nature–which means we’re not seeking a cure anymore, we’re just treating symptoms,” she says. “A doctor does have to say a patient has six months or less if the disease progresses as he or she expects.”

“Most people think that hospice is on your death bed, when you’ve got days left, but actually, we can do more good the earlier we get involved.”

She says Hospice of Pella has teams of people working together to provide care both at the Comfort House and with in-home service. Hospice of Pella encourages all families who have a loved one diagnosed with a life-ending illness to ask their healthcare providers about hospice services.