Hospice with Heart: What “We See the Whole You” Means for Your Loved One

Every November, we pause to recognize National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time to honor the professionals and volunteers who walk alongside individuals and families during some of life's most tender moments.

This year’s theme, “We See the Whole You,” is a beautiful reminder that hospice isn’t just about managing physical symptoms. It’s about seeing and honoring the whole person: body, mind, history, relationships, values, and hopes. At Care and Keeping, this is at the heart of how we support families every day, and it’s why we value our hospice partners so deeply.

What Hospice Really Is (And Isn’t)

Many families first hear the word hospice during a medical crisis, and it can feel scary, like it means “giving up,” or that death is imminent. In reality, hospice is:

• An extra layer of support, not a replacement for your existing care team

• Focused on comfort and quality of life, rather than cure

• Available wherever your loved one lives - at home, in an adult foster home, assisted living, or memory care community

• Holistic, addressing physical symptoms, emotional well-being, spiritual needs, and family support

  
  

Hospice also provides:

• Regular nurse visits and on-call support

• Access to medications and equipment related to comfort and symptom management

• Social work support for practical needs and planning

• Chaplains or spiritual support, if desired

• Grief and bereavement support for families

  
  

Far from being “the end,” hospice often allows people to feel more like themselves for longer, with less pain and more meaningful time with the people they love.

“We See the Whole You”: Why This Theme Matters

The theme “We See the Whole You” reflects something we witness often in our work with older adults and their families:

Behind every diagnosis, there is a whole person. Someone who:

• Built a career or raised a family

• Loves a certain kind of music, food, or routine

• Has beliefs, fears, and hopes

• Holds specific wishes for how they want to be cared for

  
  

Hospice teams are trained to see and honor that whole person. They ask questions like:

• “What matters most to you right now?”

• “What would a good day look like?”

• “How can we support your family as they support you?”

  
  

This approach allows care to be personalized, not just clinically appropriate. It might mean arranging for favorite music at bedside, coordinating with family so important people can visit, helping someone attend one more holiday gathering, or simply making sure pain is controlled so conversation and connection are possible.

At Care and Keeping, we share this commitment. When we help you find long-term care, we aren’t only matching a diagnosis to a building, we’re looking for a place and a care team that sees your loved one as a whole human being.

Our Deep Appreciation for Hospice Teams

We work closely with hospice providers throughout our region and see firsthand the heart and skill they bring to their work.

Our team is continually humbled by:

• Hospice nurses who respond to late-night symptom changes and help families feel less alone

• CNAs and caregivers who provide gentle personal care with dignity and respect

• Social workers and chaplains who create space for hard conversations, complex emotions, and spiritual needs

• Bereavement counselors who walk with families in the weeks and months after a loss

To all of the hospice professionals and volunteers we collaborate with: We see the heart you bring to this work, and we are deeply grateful for you.

How Care and Keeping Helps Families Consider Hospice

One of the most common phrases we hear from families is: “I wish we had known about hospice sooner.”

Part of our role at Care and Keeping is to educate families about all the layers of support available, including hospice and palliative care, so those conversations can happen earlier and feel less overwhelming.

Here’s how we support you:

1. Explaining What Hospice Is (and When It Might Help)

We take the time to walk you through:

• The difference between hospice and palliative care

• How hospice can be added while your loved one remains in their current home or care community

• What to expect from hospice visits, medications, equipment, and support

• How hospice can support both the person and the family

• We use everyday language, not medical jargon, so you can feel clear and confident as you move forward.

2. Helping You Talk With Doctors and Care Teams

It can feel intimidating to ask a physician, “Is it time to consider hospice?” or “What support options do we have now?”

We can help you:

• Prepare questions for your loved one’s physician or specialist

• Understand what terms like prognosis, goals of care, or comfort-focused really mean

• Figure out how hospice can work in coordination with existing services like home health, assisted living, adult foster homes, or memory care

3. Matching You With Trusted Hospice Providers

Because we work in senior care every day, we have relationships with hospice providers and care communities across our region. We can help you:

• Identify reputable hospice agencies that match your loved one’s needs and preferences

• Understand how each agency supports families, communicates, and coordinates care

• Ask the right questions when you’re choosing a hospice provider

4. Framing Hospice as an “Extra Layer of Care”

Many families worry that bringing in hospice will alarm their loved one or feel like giving up. We often suggest language that emphasizes support, not surrender. For example:

• “We want to add another team to help keep you comfortable and supported.”

• “This is a service that can help us manage symptoms better so we can focus on time together.”

• “Hospice means more help, not less. You’re not losing your current care, you’re gaining additional support.”

• We can coach you through how to introduce hospice to your loved one in a way that feels honest, gentle, and aligned with their values.

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If You’re Wondering About Hospice, You’re Not Alone

If you’re starting to ask:

• “Is it time to talk about hospice?”

• “What else can we do to keep Mom comfortable?”

• “How do we support Dad and also take care of ourselves?”

…that is exactly the moment when a conversation with our team can be helpful. You don’t need to wait for a crisis.

At Care and Keeping, we’re here to:

• Listen to your family’s story

• Explain options in clear, compassionate terms

• Help you explore senior living, adult foster homes, or memory care and the possibility of hospice or palliative care support

• Connect you with trusted resources so you feel less alone and more informed

This November, as we honor National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and the theme “We See the Whole You,” we want to say:

• To families: Your love, advocacy, and presence make a profound difference in your loved one’s quality of life.

• To hospice teams: Thank you for seeing the whole person, not just the illness and for standing beside families with such skill, compassion, and grace.

  
  

And to anyone reading this who is feeling unsure about next steps for an aging loved one:

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

If you’d like to talk about whether hospice, palliative care, or a change in living situation might be right for your family, Care and Keeping is here to guide you, gently, clearly, and with the same whole-person focus we value so much in our hospice partners. We’re here to help you find the support, clarity, and peace of mind you need.

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