November: National Palliative Care and Hospice Month

By Dr. Ana Sanguineti, MD (ret.)

November is a month dedicated to the understanding of, and approach to the care of the chronically ill and dying. National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is a time to consider the Catholic Church’s teaching on compassionate care in the face of suffering or dying. We are asked to “bear Christ’s love to those who are suffering”. (Salvific doloris 29, as quoted by USCCB in Catholic Care For the Sick and Dying) While we might think only of the elderly, palliative care and hospice care are two important approaches to supporting and helping people of all ages who experience a chronic illness or a terminal condition. Catholics are called to respect the dignity of life in all its stages, and “Care for life is therefore the first responsibility in our encounter with those who are sick.” (1)

Palliative Care is a team management approach involving different medical disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, social workers and caregivers, working to improve one’s quality of life and minimize or manage chronic suffering. At the same time, patients receiving palliative care may also receive care aimed at curing a condition or complication, as well as treatment to prolong life. 

Hospice Care provides comfort care at the end of one’s life either in the home with home hospice nurses or in an institutional setting. The focus of hospice care is to alleviate suffering and manage pain and other symptoms that cause distress to the person in his or her last stage of life. A spiritual dimension to suffering is also evident in both patient and family as one approaches death and therefore, the presence of a chaplain and loved ones is beneficial, bringing much peace and comfort to all.

Throughout this month, we invite you to read the different publications from the USCCB that explore end of life issues, beginning with an overview in the USCCB’s The Witness of the Good Samaritan: Palliative Care and Hospice.

1.    https://www.usccb.org/resources/samaritanus-bonus-witness-good-samaritan.pdf ;
2.    https://www.usccb.org/resources/rlp-18-caring-for-loved-ones-at-lifes-end-english-color.pdf