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City of Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson signed two proclamations declaring November as Home Care and Hospice Month at City Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and Thursday, Nov. 9, with representatives from LHC Home Care of South Alabama and Aveanna Hospice.

Home care services provide high-quality and compassionate health care services to more than 5 million Americans annually, especially in times of community or personal health care crisis.

“We provide several services to include nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. It is an honor and privilege to care for those in our community,” LHC Registered Nurse and Clinical Director Anna Ware said.

According to the proclamation, 90 percent of Americans want to age in place. Home care is the preferred method of health care delivery among the disabled, elderly, and chronically ill individuals eager to live independently in their own homes as long as they possibly can. Home care services allow families to stay together and provide for greater health, dignity, and comfort in our communities.

Home care in the United States is a growing alternative to hospitalization or other institution-based forms of health care for acute and chronic illnesses and provides care to millions of Americans each year. Two million everyday heroes, including home care nurses, therapists, and aides, will travel nearly a billion miles to deliver care.

LHC Home Care of South Alabama is located at 109B Opp Avenue in Andalusia and 1802 U.S. Highway 84 West, Suite A, in Opp. For more information call the Andalusia location at 334-222-2410 or Opp location at 334-493-2087.

Aveanna Hospice, formerly Comfort Care Hospice, is one of the largest providers of home care in the nation. Based in Atlanta, Aveanna Healthcare purchased Comfort Care Hospice in December 2021.

Medical and emotional support are provided for patients and their loved ones. The Aveanna team assists with quality of life, medical equipment and supplies, pain and symptom management, and bereavement and family support.

“We want everyone to know we are still here; we just have a new name. We are still the hospice Lisa Teel, Kenny Holt, and Dr. Joanne Smith started 20 years ago. Our focus has always been and will continue to be the same: our patients, their families, and their caregivers. Being a part of the Aveanna family gives us the opportunity to expand our service and hopefully serve more patients than ever before,” Aveanna Executive Director Kim Ray said.

According to the proclamation, hospice has helped provide comfort and dignity to millions of people, allowing them to spend their final months at home, surrounded by loved ones. Palliative care improves quality of life and offers relief from pain and can be provided at any time during an illness. The central philosophy of hospice care puts patients first, ensuring a coordinated and person-centered approach to care.

Approximately 1.72 million Medicare beneficiaries living with life-limiting illness and their families received care from hospice programs throughout the United States in 2020. The hospice benefit’s holistic approach has helped patients prepare for and face death and their loved ones carry on support in the wake of it.

Aveanna Hospice is located at 820 South Three Notch Street, Suite C in Andalusia. For more information call 334-427-4000.