Hospice, << HOS pihs, >> is a family-centered concept of health care for people dying of an incurable illness. The hospice concept aims at easing the physical and psychological pain of the patient’s illness, so that the person can appreciate his or her remaining life. It relies on a team approach to achieve this aim. The team includes the patient and his or her family, as well as physicians, nurses, social workers, members of the clergy, and volunteers. The modern system of hospice care began with the founding of St. Christopher’s Hospice in London in 1967 by Cicely Saunders, an English physician.
The hospice concept emphasizes home care. Family members are encouraged to participate in caring for the patient when they desire to do so. The hospice staff works with the family and with community agencies to help the patient remain at home. Staff members visit the family regularly and are available at all times for emergencies. They try to provide what the patient and family need. Such hospice services may include nursing care and pain control, meal preparation, laundry, or shopping. Hospice staff members are also available to sit with the patient while family members rest. After the death of the patient, emotional support is provided for the family.
Hospice care is also available to inpatients–that is, patients who cannot remain at home. This care may be provided in a separate hospice medical center or in a hospice unit of a hospital. In some cases, a hospice team cares for patients throughout the wards of a general hospital. Inpatient hospice programs provide health care with a friendly attitude in a relaxed setting.
The word hospice also refers to a shelter for travelers, especially a refuge maintained by a monastery. The hospice of the Great St. Bernard became famous for rescuing people lost in the Swiss Alps (see Saint Bernard Passes ).
See also Palliative care .
