Mrs. Lynda Pond’s is one of the many faces of hospice care that we celebrate during National Hospice/Palliative Care Month, and throughout the year. Mrs. Pond received care at Alive Hospice at Skyline Madison Campus and from one of Alive Hospice’s home care teams. Though she died earlier this year, her smile lives on in the hearts of her loved ones and those Alive Hospice caregivers who were privileged to serve her family.

 November is National Hospice/Palliative Care Month, a time for celebrating the important role of hospice caregivers across the United States and those who have been served by hospice care, such as Mrs. Lynda Pond (pictured above).

Mrs. Pond shared her story with us earlier this year at Alive Hospice at Skyline Madison Campus, and judging from a visit from her nurse during that conversation, they shared a lot of laughs. Hospice care is partly about alleviating pain and other symptoms, but as Mrs. Pond noted, it’s about caring for the whole patient, too: body, mind, and spirit.

“There’s more to sickness and more to your health than just the medical part. There’s (the) mental and emotional,” Mrs. Pond said. She added about her Alive Hospice caregivers: “They have a lot of encouragement for the patients.”

Click here to read Mrs. Pond’s story.

• Ten Important Facts About Hospice Care (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization)
• Are You Traveling Without a Map? A Layperson’s Guide to Advance Care Planning (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization)