THE HOSPICE PHILOSOPHY
The hospice philosophy recognizes that
every person deserves to live out his or her life with respect and
dignity, alert and free of pain, in an environment that promotes qualityof life. The hospice concept of care only came to the U. S. in the early 1970's, when the vast majority of terminally ill people were dying in a hospital, often alone and in pain. Hospice providers work with the patient and his or her family to help provide support, compassionate care, pain and symptom management, as well as spiritual and bereavement care.
Hospice provides a TEAM approach to meet the needs of our patients and their families. At the center of the team are the patients and their families. The Hospice Team will assess their needs in terms of what would help educate and support the family and patient as they move forward; what the nurses can do to provide pain and symptom management; how to keep the patient comfortable; who can visit to provide relief for the family and ensure that the patient is not alone; what spiritual needs the patient/family would like addressed; and what the family will need for bereavement support the year following the death of the patient.
