The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley Randolph County Commissioners Chris Siler, left, and David Kesling, right, signed a proclamation making November National Hospice Month at the commission’s last regular meeting. Standing with the commissioners is West Virginia Caring volunteer coordinator Nancy Dotson.

ELKINS — The Randolph County Commission has signed a proclamation making the month of November National Hospice Month in the county.

Commissioners Cris See, David Kesling and Chris Siler unanimously approved the proclamation. West Virginia Caring volunteer coordinator Nancy Dotson spoke at the meeting and thanked the Randolph County Commission for all of its support for hospice care.

“November is National Hospice Month, so we have a proclamation that we go through annually,” said Dotson. “We appreciate the commission for allowing that and we appreciate your understanding of the importance of hospice.”

Dotson said West Virginia Caring strives to help its patients and their families in any way possible. She also said patients don’t get bills from hospice services because it is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, along with other private insurances.

“In reality, when people need help, we want to be there sooner than later,” Dotson said. “We have a good patient center over on Diamond Street that helps with that. It helps people be able to have a break when they do have a hospice patient.”

The proclamation reads, “Whereas, hospice and palliative care are holistic, patient and family centered, provided by a team approach to treat the body, mind, and spirit. At the heart of all of this is meeting patients and families where they are living with serious, life-limiting illnesses.

“Whereas, for more than 40 years, hospice and community-based palliative care providers have helped provide comfort and dignity to millions of people. Hospice and palliative care empower people to live as fully as possible, surrounded and supported by family and loved ones, despite life-limiting illness.”

The proclamation continues, “Whereas, the interdisciplinary team model at the core of hospice and palliative care provision involves a holistic approach to treatment, including expert medical care and symptom control, as well as attending to the patient’s emotional, spiritual, and psycho-social needs, and provides family services like respite care and bereavement counseling.”

West Virginia Caring, formerly known as Hospice Care Corporation, has served the Mountain State for nearly 40 years in Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Marion, Monongalia, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Wetzel counties.

For more information, call West Virginia Caring at 1-866-656-9790.