As hospice care moves into the 21st century and beyond, hospice providers hope not only to help people die more comfortably, but to let others know about the service.

"We hope to increase awareness by continuing to do educational programs and speaking to groups about hospice," said Linda Logue, coordinator of Sharon Regional Health System's hospice program. "Many people don't know it's there and a paid benefit through Medicaid."

Sharon Regional's hospice program began in the early 1980s and has grown throughout the years. Ms. Logue said the program has a larger number of patients than it has in a long time.

"My hope for the future is that we will expand ... we hope to establish a relationship with nursing homes," Ms. Logue said.

Ms. Logue also said that she hopes doctors will offer hospice as an option earlier in a patient's illness, although doctors are bound by a six-month life expectancy rule when referring patients to hospice.

"I think as our generation ages, we're going to want to have more options open to us," she said. "More hospice organizations are growing as the population becomes older and becomes ill."

Hospice organizations are growing in the Shenango Valley. The Pittsburgh-based Family Hospice and Palliative Care opened an office in Hermitage on April 1.

A nonprofit, independent hospice and palliative care organization, Family Hospice and Palliative Care was founded in 1979.

"Our mission is to improve how people die," said Rafael J. Sciullo, executive director of Family Hospice and Palliative Care and chairman of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. In March, Family Hospice and Palliative Care acquired UPMC Health System's hospice program. Its four corporate partners are Mercy Hospital, South Hills Health System, St. Claire Hospital and UPMC Health System, but Sciullo said the organization hopes to work with all local hospitals.

"Our focus is the community. We want to do what's best for the community," Sciullo said. "Our goal is to increase our collaborative efforts to provide more access to end-of-life care."

Sciullo said there are national legislative initiatives to establish partnerships between hospitals and hospice providers to develop palliative care units.

This year is also the 20th anniversary of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, which allows patients with a six-month or less life expectancy to receive medical benefits for hospice. Sciullo said there are moves for legislators to establish hospice programs outside the six-month prognosis.

Sciullo said Family Hospice and Palliative Care's vision for the future is to make sure hospice is always a critical part of clinical care.

"Our goal is to collaborate and determine what's best for the community," Sciullo said. "We're very, very positive that we could really provide a focus for the community and end of life care ...."