When the photography exhibit “The Art of Caring” opened on May 16 at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), the National Hospice Foundation was proud to be present as a “Caring Partner” for the section on “Remembering.”
The show captures life’s milestones through the lenses of a diverse group of contemporary photographers, some very well known (such as Annie Leibovitz) and some emerging artists. The exhibit contained seven parts, each depicting an aspect of the physical or emotional process of human life: wellness, caregiving and healing, children and family, aging, love, disaster, and remembrance.
The exhibit’s public opening featured an “Afternoon Focus on Hospice” that was organized by Jamey Boudreaux, executive director of the Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Association. This event gave exhibit attendees the opportunity to meet with hospice professionals and learn about community end-of-life care resources, but also provided a visual glimpse into the special care that hospice provides. Images created by children who had experienced the death, and photographs from the Louisiana State Penitentiary Hospice at Angola, which Boudreaux was instrumental in establishing, were shown.
According to NOMA:
In today’s interconnected world, photography is more a part of our everyday lives than ever before. Only a few years ago, bringing a camera with you was a conscious decision and often involved fastidious planning and the transportation of cumbersome equipment that made documentation far from spontaneous. Today, most cell phone users have a camera with them at all times. Taking a photo of anyone, anything and then transmitting it effortlessly via email to one person or many has become second nature. Walking, talking, shooting, and transmitting photos are now virtually synonymous.
Yet, according to the National Hospice Foundation, most Americans don’t know what hospice is and nearly 75 percent don’t know that hospice care can be provided at home. Less than 10 percent know it provides pain relief for the terminally ill, and nearly 80 percent don’t think of it as a choice for end-of-life care, while 90 percent don’t know that Medicare pays for it.
You can use the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s directory to find a hospice near you. You can learn more about how a hospice operates, whether or not you can volunteer or if you want to think about this choice for yourself or for loved ones as a choice for end-of-life care. Later, I’ll show other ways on how to get involved with a local hospice or palliative care organization.
Tags: caregiving, Palliative care, remembrance