Definition Hospice is a special form of care for people who have terminal diseases. The goal is to give support to those near death, instead of trying to cure their diseases. Hospice care focuses on the ill person and the family, not the disease.
What is the information for this topic? Hospice is a type of care for people with a terminal illness. It is usually only offered to people who are thought to have less than 6 months to live. An example of a hospice patient is a person with terminal cancer. Anyone with a terminal condition is eligible for this type of care.
Hospice care does not attempt to cure a person's disease. Rather, the disease is allowed to run its natural course. The goal of hospice care is to reduce pain and other symptoms, as well as to give spiritual and emotional support.
Hospice care includes treatment from doctors, nurses, therapists, dieticians, social workers, clergy, volunteers, and others. Therapy is designed to:
prepare the person and his or her family for death
Nothing is done to speed death. Instead, death is allowed to take place naturally. Hospice care has been shown to increase patient satisfaction, to ease family anxiety, and even to reduce costs.
A person must qualify for hospice care. In most cases, a doctor must agree that the person has a terminal illness that is likely to cause death within the next 6 months. Once people are enrolled in hospice, they can leave any time they want. For example, if the disease improves, they may want to go back to getting treatment for it.
Charges may apply, check with the services and hospices listed. The decision to enter hospice is a difficult one for most people. In a sense, it means giving up the fight against a disease and accepting death. Talking with family members and the doctor can help the person make this painful decision. A nearby hospice group can help answer any questions as well.
The end of life can be a difficult time for the person and the family. For some, this time may be better spent at home than in a hospital fighting the disease until the last breath. For many people with terminal diseases, hospice offers a more peaceful way to die. But it's not for everyone. People facing death can decide for themselves what kind of care is best for them.
Author: Adam Brochert, MD Reviewer: eknowhow Medical Review Panel Editor: Dr John Hearne Last Updated: 18/06/2005 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
