Hospice exists neither to hasten nor postpone death. Rather, hospice exists to affirm life—by providing support and care in the last months of incurable disease so that the patient can live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice services are designed to help terminally ill patients and their families face
together the physical, emotional, social, financial, and spiritual aspects of
their lives and the patient's death in an atmosphere of support and acceptance. Patients and their loved ones must be willing to shift goals of treatment from curative to palliative therapies, with a focus on
comfort and emotional and spiritual care. |
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The most basic premise of the hospice team is the desire to enhance the quality of one’s life no matter the duration. In other words, the primary goal of hospice care is to help hospice patients spend their last months living as fully and completely as
possible in familiar, comfortable surroundings, and in the company of family and friends.
Hospice care can be provided in a patient's home, nursing facility, assisted living, or other place of residence.
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