National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is celebrated every November across the nation and Murray-Calloway County Hospital is helping support awareness. This year’s theme is Courageous Conversations. In a culture that often teaches us to resist mortality and a healthcare systems defined by interventionism, the seemingly simple act of having a conversation about dying can have a profound impact.

What does death mean in my life? If I am faced with a terminal diagnosis, how would my values shape my end of life journey? How do I want my loved ones to engage with me toward the end of my life? It’s difficult to talk about these questions but having these courageous conversations with ourselves, family, friends and doctors can mean the difference between having the type of death a patient wants- one that matches their own end-of-life journey.

During this year, the MCCH Hospice staff and the Anna Mae Owen Hospice House have had the privilege to care for approximately 193 patients and their families. And these families will be followed for 13 months by the bereavement counselors and the Hospice staff, as they do with all Hospice patients.

“MCCH Hospice has been serving patients and their families here in Murray and Calloway County since 1981.  The mission of Hospice is to travel with the patient and their families along their final journey to provide the best quality of life possible for as long as possible.  Our staff both here at the Anna Mae Owen Hospice House and in our patient’s homes, work diligently 24 hours a day to ensure that our families are both comfortable with the care they are providing and to answer any questions they may have.  Our ultimate goal is that the patient is as comfortable as possible during this most difficult time,” said Sherri Boyd, Director of Hospice.

Please join us for an Open House at the Anna Mae Owen Residential House on Tuesday, November 14, from 5:00-7:00 to tour our residential home, meet our experienced staff and learn about hospice services and how you can become involved. We look forward to seeing you and engaging in these courageous conversations.

For more information about hospice, palliative care, and advance care planning is available from the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House at 270-767-3670.