SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Each November, hospices across the U.S. reach out to raise awareness of the compassionate care provided to patients and families who are coping with serious and life-limiting illness.

Hospice teams provide expert medical care to keep patients comfortable and able to enjoy time with loved ones. They answer questions, offer advice on what to expect, and help families with the caregiver duties. The team also provides emotional and spiritual support and ongoing bereavement support for the entire family.

“With the help of hospice, patients and their families can focus on what’s most important – enjoying life together and living the final seasons to their fullest,” said Linda Rock, Executive Director of Prairie Haven Hospice at Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff. “It’s about quality of life.”

According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, more than 1.56 million patients receive care from the nation’s hospices every year.

“Many families who have chosen hospice care reflect back upon the experience and question why they did not seek this option sooner,” said Rock. “Many were simply unaware of hospice as a possible option, but the focus on pain and symptom control, in addition to the emotional, social and spiritual support, enables patients and families to make the most of every day.”

Prairie Haven Hospice seeks to provide compassionate care that enhances the lives of those with terminal illness and their families; to promote emotional, spiritual and physical well being of survivors after loss; and to help all people affected by end of life issues. Prairie Haven Hospice serves those living in the Nebraska panhandle and eastern Wyoming. For more information, please call toll free at 877-699-7794 or 308-630-1149.