Harford County Human Relations Commission Marks National Hospice Month

From Harford County Government:

(Bel Air, MD) – The Harford County Department of Community Services Human Relations Commission is pleased to announce November is National Hospice Month. The Commission’s regular monthly meeting takes place at the Senator Bob Hooper Hospice House, 2007 Klein Plaza Drive, Forest Hill, on Thursday, November 13, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. Executive Director Beverly Dean-Crabtree is the guest speaker at the session. The meeting is free and open to the public. Citizens interested in attending should contact the Office of Human Relations at 410-638-4739 or humanrelations@harfordcountymd.gov for additional information.

In Harford County, there are options available for people facing death and for the loved ones left behind to grieve the loss. Hospice care is designed to offer peace of mind for people in a difficult situation. The Harford County Government web site at www.harfordcountymd.gov provides a resource guide with the names, phone numbers, and websites of hospice care organizations in the area.

Cicely Saunders, a London doctor, began her work with the terminally ill in 1948 and eventually created the first modern hospice in Europe. In the United States, when Doctor Saunders came to Yale to give a presentation on hospice care, a chain reaction went into motion that formed the vision of hospice care that most people recognize today.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) estimated that in 2013 over 1.5 million patients used hospice care. It provides people with information they need about their family member’s treatment while offering them support and coping techniques after a loved one has died. In addition, hospice, whether provided in-home, through a licensed agency or in a facility, provides a multi-faceted approach to the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Hospice is the type of care provided to a terminally ill person.

Hospice generally involves a team of workers who determine whether the patient has an end of life, usually meaning less than a six month life expectancy condition. Hospice focuses on pain management and symptom relief as well as emotional and spiritual support. One of the benefits of hospice is that a family member who is supervised by a team of healthcare professionals can usually provide care at the patient’s home. This allows the family members to pursue an active role in the care of their loved ones, which is a benefit to the family members during their bereavement.

Harford County is fortunate to have hospice facilities, assisted living facilities, and at-home hospice care providers that serve as resources for difficult decisions.

The Human Relations Commission is a 15-member volunteer advisory board appointed by the County Executive with the approval of the County Council. Members serve with the County Executive representing all segments of the County’s population.

Among the Commission’s duties is the charge to study the nature and causes of social friction in the community and to make recommendations to the County Executive and Council with a view toward alleviating social problems and promoting equality, understanding and harmonious relations among the citizens of the County. Health concerns and disparities exist based upon race, ethnicity, gender, and geography, which is costly. Eliminating them saves money and builds stronger communities. The Human Relations Commission will highlight health and wellness observances each month this fiscal year.