11/04/2025
National Care at Home Month: Hospice and Palliative Care Week. 🕊️
Hospice and palliative care are not about giving up—they are about comfort, dignity, presence, and honoring the whole person. The focus is on quality of life, meaningful connection, symptom relief, and emotional and spiritual support.
Thank you to every caregiver, clinician, volunteer, and companion who walks alongside patients and families with skill, compassion, and grace.
➡️ A Brief History
Modern hospice began in the 1960s when Dame Cicely Saunders, a British nurse, social worker, and physician, introduced the concept of specialized care for people nearing the end of life. She founded St. Christopher’s Hospice in London in 1967, combining medical excellence with emotional and spiritual support. Hospice came to the United States in 1974, and in 1982, a federal hospice benefit was created to ensure access to compassionate care. Palliative care later expanded this model, offering relief from pain and stress at any stage of serious illness.
➡️ Why It Matters
Hospice and palliative care help individuals live fully and meaningfully—whether that means time with loved ones, managing symptoms to stay comfortable, or finding peace in life’s final chapters.
➡️ Learn More
Visit https://bit.ly/4qIDigk or speak with our Stillwater Hospice team to explore resources, services, and support.