Hospice care is a comprehensive
service available to terminally ill patients and
their families during the last months of life.
As an alternative to conventional medical care,
hospice care seeks neither to prolong nor to
shorten life, but to make the lives of the
terminal patient, his or her family members and
friends as comfortable and satisfying as
possible. Hospice care provides medical,
psychological, spiritual, social and financial
support to the dying patient and his or her
family. Hospice personnel are skilled in
providing medications, medical equipment and
supplies, education and care to reduce the pain,
symptoms and stress that often accompany
terminal illness. In addition to physical
care, hospice provides emotional and spiritual
support for the patient and family along with
practical assistance with advance directives and
funeral arrangements. Support for family
and friends continue after the patient’s death
through grief counseling and community support
groups.
The majority of hospice care is
provided in the home setting by a care team that
includes the patient, family members,
physicians, hospice staff, volunteers and other
community resources. When a patient is not
able to remain at home, hospice care can be
provided in any institutional setting such as a
hospital, nursing home, assisted living
facility, group home or Hospice House.
