Good Samaritan Hospice is hosting a birthday party to celebrate its 20th year with an evening of information and inspiration that includes a panel discussion and workshop about the benefits of hospice care for patients and their families.

The event, “Celebrating Life, Celebrating Hospice,” will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 18. It features a keynote address from Don Schumacher, President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Brenda Clarkson, president of the Virginia Association for Hospices, also will participate in a panel discussion.

“Hospice care is about celebrating life. It’s about equipping patients and caregivers with the very best in physical, social, emotional and spiritual well-being during that last chapter so that they can embrace life on their terms,” said Sue Ranson, president and CEO of Good Sam, with offices in the Roanoke and New River valleys. “That’s why we’re making our 20th anniversary this year a birthday celebration.”

The event, at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, 108 N. Jefferson St., will consist of three elements. First up is the keynote from Schumacher about the history, growth and benefits of hospice care for patients and their families. That’s followed by a panel discussion to facilitate questions and answers about hospice care. The event concludes with informal discussions, one for families, caregivers and the community, and the other for physicians and other medical professionals.

This free event includes a birthday cake and refreshments.

“Two decades ago, we were among the first in our region to introduce hospice care – a specialized, multi-disciplinary program of care that provides clinical expertise and support for people in the final stages of a life-limiting illness as well as their families.

We saw the need for more care in the home or home-like setting,” Ranson said. “We saw the need to provide options for patients and families for when the prospect of recovery from a disease or injury is limited and when further medical intervention would not contribute significantly to quality of life.”

In hospice care, an interdisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, chaplains, certified nursing assistants, bereavement counselors and volunteers are specially trained to assist patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible with their rights to dignity and choice intact.

“We work with both the patient and the family to alleviate distress, such as pain, provide personal care, assist with decision-making, provide emotional support and offer a safety net that people need in times of need,” Ranson says. “Good Samaritan’s approach to hospice is about choice. At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that patients who face terminal illness should be encouraged to remain independent and in control of their lives. We want the patient and family to participate fully in every decision about care.”

To reserve a spot for this free event, please call (540) 776-0198 or e-mail 20years@goodsamhospice.org.

Submitted by Good Samaritan Hospice