BATAVIA, N.Y. — A terminal illness can be a difficult experience for patients, their caregivers, and friends and families.

But when someone is facing the end of life, hospice care is an option to make their final days a little less painful physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

As a volunteer coordinator for hospice in Batavia, Patricia Meek is one person among many who try to make those troubling times a little easier for patients and loved ones.

"What is it that hope means to you in this situation?" she said. "Just that attention, that time, that ability for somebody to have conversation with other people, have the outside world come in again now that their world has become so narrow."

Patricia has experienced a similar situation herself. Her late husband, Harvey, suffered from heart failure and chronic pulmonary disease. He was able to have long-term care in their home, allowing her to cherish every moment.

"The caregiver can end up having so much to do that they don’t get that quality time," Meek said. "They’re sort of robbed of that special time that you have at the end of life with someone."

Hospice services can include medical care and pain management, counseling, therapy, spiritual advisement, family assistance, bereavement and much more for people diagnosed with six months or less to live.

"Hospice is a form of end-of-life care in which the patient chooses his or her surroundings to be able to pass away with dignity and respect," said Melissa Sullivan, CEO, Community Care of WNY Home Care and Hospice.

Sullivan says there are many common misconceptions about hospice.

"When patients hear the word ‘hospice’ it just has a negative connotation such as just a death sentence," she said. "In reality, it’s a very peaceful choice that a patient makes when they’ve been diagnosed with a terminal diagnosis."

Sullivan reccommends patients and caregivers should into hospice services long before their final days. Because the intake process does take some time, it’s important to have those discussions as soon as possible to ensure people can get the comfort and care they need as soon as possible. Medicare covers the costs related to the terminal diagnosis.

"If a patient changes their mind or they want to try a clinical trial or they want to do another round of chemo or radiation, that it is very possible to come off a hospice, do that clinical trial, try a curative method and then come back on later," she said. 

It’s the compassionate care of people like Dawn Moore, a senior nurse coordinator with hospice, that can make all the difference. Moore, whose own father suffered from a terminal illness, often receives thank you cards from loved ones after someone has passed away.

"Knowing that I’ve touched somebody’s life. Knowing I’ve helped them when she was excruciating pain and couldn’t breathe, that I was able to take care of that and make her comfortable, and educate the family on how to make her comfortable. That’s why I do it," she said. 

While Medicare takes care of much of the cost of hospice services, they’re always looking for donations of time and money to help with extra services. Volunteers can help in a patient’s home or care setting, provide comfort and peaceful entertainment or just someone to talk for those facing a terminal diagnosis. If you’d like to lend a hand, you can contact your local hospice organization.