Over the summer, my family and I enjoyed spending time watching the Paris Olympic games. We were inspired to see how the support of loved ones, commitment, perseverance, and training led to confidence and accomplishment for so many of the athletes.
While we don’t have a podium or medals, at Hospice of the Piedmont, I see a similar commitment.
Commitment and Perseverance in Hospice Care
The determination and strength of our care teams, caregivers, and community partners help support and guide the end-of-life journey for those who are facing life-limiting illnesses.
Many who have been touched by the care and services from Hospice of the Piedmont, or have been a caregiver to a loved one, know the strength to which I am referring.
The Caregiver Experience: A Personal Story
Personally, I had the amazing fortune of being the primary caregiver for both my parents with dementia. Despite my 30+ years of nursing experience, I felt completely inadequate navigating the day-to-day circumstances that I faced when I took on the caregiver role. However, I found myself able to navigate it thanks to early enrollment in hospice, and the support, compassion, and education provided to me by the interdisciplinary hospice team.
The Power of Hospice Support
Through community engagement and support, I quickly learned that I wasn’t alone. Because of the compassion and competence of the hospice care team, I was able to learn and be reassured during challenging times. The team caring for Mom and Dad was confident due to their training and skills. That confidence allowed me to draw from their good work and be resilient when facing sometimes hard circumstances.
At Hospice of the Piedmont, Education and Community Outreach and Engagement are two priority philanthropic focus areas for this year.
Education and Community Engagement: A Focus for Hospice of the Piedmont
Continuing education for our team members as they grow in their professional development and education for our caregivers to support their health and strength as they care for their loved one.
Through our priority of Community Outreach and Engagement, we hope to bring palliative and hospice support – sooner – as we know the benefits of having six months or more can have an incredibly positive impact on both the patient and family. I’m grateful for the support of our community in our efforts, as these priorities beautifully align with our mission: to guide life’s final journey with expertise and empathy.
During one of the Olympic interviews, a gold medal winner was asked, “You often have just one chance for the gold after years and years of training. What centers you? What helps you focus?” Their response? “Everyone here trains, commits, and perseveres to do what we love and do it well. We want to make every moment we have to do well, count.” At Hospice of the Piedmont, that’s our goal, too…to help make every moment count.
Thank you for trusting Hospice of the Piedmont and the remarkable team doing this work.
Nancy Littlefield, DNP, RN
President & CEO
