More than one million people were served by the nation's hospice programs last year. Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care  served more than 970 patients and families in the in-home hospice care program and another 1,200 family members in their grief support program. Yet for every person that received hospice care, it is estimated that another individual would have benefited from the services of hospice but didn't get this compassionate care at the end of their life.

Here are eight key messages about hospice care that everyone should understand.

1.       Hospice is not a place but a special kind of care focusing on relief of pain, symptom control, and spiritual and emotional support. Care goes out to the patient and family caregivers.

2.       Hospice is not about "giving up" but instead focuses on quality of life making the wishes of the patient and family caregivers a priority.

3.       The majority of hospice care takes place in the home, where the person can be surrounded by family and familiar settings. Yet inpatient services are available if symptoms cannot be properly attended to at home.

4.       Hospice costs are covered by Medicare, Medicaid in most states, and by most insurance programs and HMOs.

5.       The expenses of all medicines related to the life-limiting illness are covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

6.       Hospice provides support and care-giving training to family caregivers in the home.

7.       Grief support is available to families for a year after the death of their loved one.

8.       The most common statement made by families who chose hospice for their loved one is, "we wish we had known about hospice sooner."

If a person isn't facing decisions about care at the end of life for themselves or a family member, it's likely that a close friend, neighbor or coworker is struggling with these difficult issues.

For more information: about Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care by contacting Sheila Jones, 1-888-789-2922 or by visiting www.mtnvalleyhospice.org

ABOUT MOUNTAIN VALLEY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care is a nonprofit organization serving the terminally ill in Surry, Yadkin and the 14 surrounding counties. Through its team of trained specialists, health-care professionals and volunteers, Mountain Valley Hospice addresses the growing need for compassionate hospice care through offices in Yadkinville, Elkin, Mount Airy, NC, and Stuart and Galax, Va. In March 2009 Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care started serving patients and families at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice home in Dobson, NC.

The Woltz Hospice Home is a state of the art hospice facility featuring 20 patient suites with individual outdoor patios, a spa room and many more patient comforts. For their families, there is an old-time soda shop, children's play room, and many more amenities to keep them comfortable and close by their loved one during this time when families are needed most. It is designed to be truly "Close to Home".