Like movie, hospice provides hope
Have you seen the movie "New Year's Eve"? This romantic comedy, from the director of "Valentine's Day" and "Pretty Woman," relates to all walks of life.
Here is how it relates to hospice care. There are two great things about the movie:
First, there is a mention of hospice: In the movie, hospice is portrayed as the people who come to be with patients at the very end of life, which is true. However, hospice is more than that. Hospice services are actually available for terminally ill patients with a prognosis of six months or less. Even though hospice can be a longer term health care option than portrayed in the movie, it is wonderful to see it mainstream.
Hospice today is more often recognized as a health care option, which it should be. With the ability to care for patients for a longer period of time than most think, the hospice team can get symptoms and pain under control and enhance the quality of life for patients and help them be with their family and loved ones in the time that is left.
Second, the message: The movie "New Year's Eve" is about hope — hope for all things in life that seem so far away. For example, when Hilary Swank, playing Claire Morgan, vice president of the Times Square Alliance, says when the ball gets stuck that it is a representation of stopping all the craziness in our lives to reflect on what we have been blessed with and what we will be blessed with in the new year. The movie scenarios symbolize how life can throw you a curve ball, but hoping for more and being someone's answer to their hopes can make the moment seem like a home run.
The movie "New Year's Eve" is a wonderful tale of life, romance, little corky twists and even end of life. It is an easy watch that will leave you feeling happy to ring in the new year. Hospice care is like this movie because we can give hope and support to so many that have been thrown a curve ball in life. We do our best to make the last moments count by getting symptoms under control and enhancing the quality of life for patients and help them to be with their family and loved ones in the time that is left.
No one has to go through the dying process alone. Hospice of Southern Illinois can help.
Hospice of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization serving 27 counties in southern Illinois for 30 years. For more information concerning hospice, call 618-235-1703 or visit hospice.org. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blogger.
Christine Juehne
Print and social media coordinator
Community education
Hospice of Southern Illinois ¨
