Honey Lake Hospice volunteers work alongside health care professionals to provide palliative care at end of life.   

The World Health Organization in 1990 adopted a definition of palliative care, stating its goal and indicating its function:
·  Palliative care is the active, total care of patients whose disease is not responding to
   treatment.
·  Control of pain, other symptoms, and of psychological, social and spiritual problems is       paramount.
·  The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best possible quality of life for patients       and their families.
·  Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of illness.

In particular Palliative care:
.  Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
.  Neither hastens or postpones death.
.  Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms.
.  Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care.
.  Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.
.  Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness, and in their       own bereavement.

For more information, please contact Honey Lake Hospice at 530-257-3137, or the following organizations:

California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (www.calhospice.org)
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (www.nhpco.org)
Veterans Administration (www.va.gov)