What is Hospice?
Hospice is a specialized level of care for individuals who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. When medical intervention can no longer offer a cure, hospice offers palliative care, or comfort control, with an emphasis on enhancing quality of life.
Our goal is to provide symptom control and supportive care for individuals and their families throughout the end of life process, so they may live as comfortably as possible. Hospice affirms life and neither hastens, nor postpones, death.
Hospice is a concept of care, not a specific place of care. Within this concept, the primary location for hospice care is normally the home setting, since the patient feels the greatest level of security and comfort in his/her own familiar environment. However, hospice care also can be provided in other locations where the patient may be residing, such as in residential care homes, nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
Hospice also provides emotional, non-denominational spiritual and practical support based on the wishes and needs of the patient, caregivers and family. Hospice recognizes that every person's experience will be different and the hospice team, in association with the patient's primary physician, creates a Plan of Care customized for the individual needs and wishes of each patient. Caregivers and family are also included in this Plan of Care.
