What Is Hospice?

HOSPICE care has been in the news this week, but many people do not know exactly what it is.

It is a type of medical care designed for people that have been diagnosed with a terminal medical condition who do not wish to undergo any more treatment to try to cure their condition. The care is designed to manage the patient’s pain and comfort after other treatments have been stopped and to provide psychological, spiritual, and emotional support to the patient and their family.

Care is usually provided in a specialized hospice center, an assisted living facility, a hospital, or the patient’s home. Providers are a team of doctors, nurses, home health aides, and other professionals who can provide the type of care needed by the patient and the family. If care is provided at home, they also provide the equipment, supplies, and medications that are needed.

Patients may also decide to leave hospice at any time and resume treatment to try to cure their medical condition.