Purple ribbons can be found adorning lightposts around area towns to help bring awareness to November being National Hospice Care Month. Tiffany Crawford with Hospice of Washington County shares that hospice care provides comfort care for patients who are facing a terminal illness of six months or less, “The importance of having hospice care is providing comfort care and support to people who have terminal illness or are approaching the end of their lives. We focus on improving the patient’s comfort, quality of life, and symptom management.”

Hospice of Washington County is a not-for-profit organization that provides care for patients in a 50-mile radius of Washington County.

Crawford adds that there are services available for family members who have lost a loved one, “If you are interested in grief support that is available at all times, all times of the year, not just the holidays. And we do offer this at no charge.Your loved one did not have to be on Hospice of Washington County services.” A grief support group will be held on November 25th at 2 p.m. at the Hospice of Washington County office at 948 E. 11th Street. The goal of the group is to provide tools, support, and a safe place to talk about tough items. The bereavement services are free and open to anyone who has lost a loved one.