Bloomington, MN -- AseraCare Hospice of [Bloomington] is joining hospice care centers throughout the country in celebrating National Hospice and Palliative Care month during November. The month-long awareness recognizes and honors healthcare professionals and volunteers who provide end-of-life care to more than 1.2 million individuals annually.

AseraCare Hospice of Bloomington will be celebrating National Hospice and Palliative Care month by joining many of our Long Term Care and Assisted Living Partners throughout the month. We will be celebrating not only our staff and volunteers, but the many patients and families we have cared for over the years. “Hospice has been part of the healthcare industry for more than a quarter of a century,” said Lori Krech, Executive Director of AseraCare Hospice of Bloomington. “It is so important to recognize the outstanding programs and services hospice provides to patients and their families. But my hope is that people will also take time to thank local hospice staff members and volunteers for the compassion, love and respect they shower on their patients each and every day.”

Hospice and palliative care programs are designed to work in concert when individuals are diagnosed with an illness. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, hospice and palliative care both focus on helping a person be comfortable by addressing issues causing physical or emotional pain, or suffering.

The difference in the two services is that hospice is traditionally for individuals who are near the end of their life, while palliative care can be provided any time after a diagnosis, regardless of life expectancy. Cicely Saunders, a physician from London, England, is credited with starting the hospice movement in the 1960s. The concept arrived in the United States in 1974 when a hospice care center opened in Connecticut. Today, there are more than 3,200 hospice programs and 1,200 palliative care programs nationwide.

“The staff members who work at AseraCare Hospice of Bloomington are truly special people. I am so proud to work with and lead this group of professionals.” said Krech. “They support they provide to our patients and their families is unmatched,”

Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization advocates for the terminally ill and their families. It also develops public and professional educational programs and materials to enhance understanding and availability of hospice and palliative care; convenes frequent meetings and symposia on emerging issues; provides technical informational resources to its membership; conducts research; monitors Congressional and regulatory activities; and works closely with other organizations that share an interest in end of life care.

AseraCare Hospice is an affiliate of Golden Living, a leading provider of healthcare services to the elderly. It is the sixth largest hospice company in the United States, serving more than 3,000 hospice patients in 63 locations in 18 states, including 50 patients in 11 county metro. For more information on AseraCare visit www.AseraCare.com .

CONTACT:
Lori Krech, Executive Director
Phone: 952-943-0009
E-mail:  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Fax: 952-943-1187

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