DAPHNE, Ala. — A tree planting and dedication celebration to recognize National Hospice Month is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday at Daphne Dog Park.

The oak tree — donated by Old Tyme Feed and Garden Supply — will be planted in honor and memory of more than 300 Covenant Hospice patients served in the Daphne area this year.

“Each year, we’ll do a different activity to create awareness about hospice,” Covenant Hospice development manager Jackie Crews said, adding that past events have included an ice cream social called “Here’s the scoop on Hospice.”

Crews said the public may have misconceptions about hospice and that the event is a means to educate the public about the program’s benefits.

“This is an opportunity to shed light on what is and what is not hospice,” she said. Hospice care treats a terminally ill patient as well as their family members. It focuses on pain-and-symptom management, offers home visits from physicians and bereavement treatment for family members.

Covenant selected the dog park as the event’s site to tie in with their “Paws for Patients” program where trained dogs will visit with hospice patients.

“It’s really surprising how much of an effect dogs can have on patients,” Crews said.

She said a former client who was “not responsive and really quiet” used to light up with life when visited by one of the group’s dogs.

“They brought the dog in and she just smiled,” Crews said.

Daphne’s tree planting is part of a national campaign launched by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that reminds people that “hospice is not about how you die, but how you live,” according to a news release.

“We’re honored to do this,” Olde Tyme owner Cecil Christenberry said. “I love the program. I love what they do. We’re just glad to participate.

“It’s something I wish not everyone needed,” he said.

At the event, Mayor Fred Small is set to officially proclaim November as National Hospice Month. The dog park is next to the Al Trione Sports Complex on Whispering Pines Road.

What is hospice?

Hospice is a philosophy of care that treats terminally ill patients in their homes using a team of physicians, specialists, nurses, counselors and social workers.

Hospice is often referred to as “comfort care,” as opposed to “curative care.”

According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, hospice care includes:

“Patients and families often do not realize they qualify for hospice care based upon the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness,” Covenant hospital liaison Judy Schwartz said. “The misconception is that you have to be close to death to receive hospice care.

“As long as the patient’s physician is willing to certify that the patient has six months to a year to live, then they can be evaluated to receive hospice care. In fact, studies have shown that patients that receive symptom control care and are able to achieve comfort often live longer due to their improved quality of life.”

Those treated for Alzheimer’s disease and other dimentias, lung disease, cardiovascular diseases, renal diseases, AIDS and liver disease often choose hospice care.

“Hospice is about choices at the end of life,” Schwartz said.  “It is a means of support and education to the patient and family during the most difficult time of their lives.”

Fast facts

According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, in 2008, 1.4 million Americans received hospice care, including:

<930,000 patients who died under hospice care

<258,000 who remained on hospice census at the end of 2008

<222,000 patients who were discharged alive in 2008 for reasons including extended prognosis or desire for curative treatment.

The organization estimates that approximately 39 percent of all deaths in the U.S. in 2008 — 930,000 out of 2.4 million — were under the care of a hospice program.

The average length of hospice care for most patients in 2008 was 67 days.

Seventy percent of hospice patients received care in their place of residence. The breakdown is as follows:

Nineteen percent received care in a hospice inpatient facility; 10.5 percent were treated in an acute care hospital.

The patient age groups receiving hospice care are as follows:

<35 to 64 years: 16.5 percent

<65 to 74 years: 16.2 percent

<75 to 84 years: 30 percent

<85 years or more: 36.6 percent.

The primary diagnoses for hospice patients include: