News from the Noteworthy from Helios Care

Helios Celebrates End-of-Life Care Professionals

November was National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the vital role hospice and palliative care professionals play in providing compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals and families facing serious illness or nearing the end of life.

Helios Care, a regional nonprofit serving Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties dedicated to providing quality end-of-life care, is proud to join in this nationwide observance by honoring its staff, volunteers, and the families it serves.

Throughout the month, Helios Care hosted a variety of events, community outreach activities, and educational initiatives to raise awareness about the benefits of hospice and palliative care. These efforts aim to ensure that families in our community understand that there are options available that focus on comfort, dignity and quality of life during the most challenging times.

Hospice and palliative care are about much more than just medical treatment—they are about providing comfort, compassion, and support for individuals and their loved ones. Our goal is to help people live their final days with dignity, free from pain and surrounded by their loved ones. National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is an opportunity to remind the public that these services are available, free of charge, and that no one should have to face end-of-life care alone.

Why Hospice and Palliative Care Matter

Hospice and palliative care are specialized forms of care that prioritize quality of life for those with serious, life-limiting conditions. Hospice care is available to those with a prognosis of six months or less to live and focuses on comfort, symptom management and emotional support. Palliative care, which can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, focuses on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for patients and their families.

Activities and Events

Throughout National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, Helios Care offered a variety of events to engage the local community, including:

• Educational Workshops: On November 2 at the Uplands Center in Walton, we held “The Waves of Grief,” utilizing art therapy and yoga to help family members handle their grief. At the Gathering Place in Oneonta, we held Informational sessions about the benefits of hospice and palliative care and how to navigate these services. At Bushel in Delhi on November 7, we co-hosted “It’s OK Not To Be OK” with the Woodland Cemetery Association—a roundtable discussion of tools for managing grief around the holidays.
• Staff Appreciation Events: We feted our home health aides on Wednesday, November 13 with a luncheon and thank-you gifts for their continued outstanding service to our patients. All month we recognized our clinical staff by highlighting some who have been with us for many years with a spotlight post telling their stories on Facebook, honoring the dedication and compassion of our staff who provide support to patients and families.
• Public Traditional Events: The 35th annual Tree of Lights program was held in three locations on Sunday, November 24 to honor those we miss with ornaments adorned with names on Christmas trees that will stay lit through the holidays, and on Thanksgiving morning, the annual Turkey Trot fun run and walk attracted more than 950 participants winding their way through the River Street neighborhoods helping to honor those we miss. These two events garner much needed unrestricted funds patient care as well as raise awareness of Helios Care services.

How You Can Help

Helios Care encourages community members to get involved by donating, volunteering, or simply spreading the word about the benefits of hospice and palliative care. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference in the lives of those facing serious illness. To learn more about hospice and palliative care, or to find out how you can help support our mission, please visit www.helioscare.org or contact us at (607) 432-6773.

Dan Ayres is president and chief executive officer of Helios Care.