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Hospice Philosophy

Hospice care is based on a philosophy of care which embraces death as a natural part of the cycle of life.  Hospice care recognizes several important facts; dying patients and their families have special needs; compassionate and high-quality palliative and supportive care is needed during the last months of a patient's life; the patient's desire to die with dignity should be respected; and, in the terminal phases of a person's life, the need for quality of life often becomes more important than it quantity.  In one short sentence, the hospice philosophy of care is: terminally ill patients deserve the best possible palliative care, and both patients and families deserve the bet possible supportive care to relieve physical, emotional, spiritual, and social pain and suffering.

The National Hospice Organization's Standards of a Hospice Program of Care includes this statement on the philosophy of hospice care:

Hospice provides support and care for persons in the last phases of incurable disease so they may live as fully and as comfortably as possible.  Hospice recognizes dying as part of the normal process of living and focuses on maintaining the quality of remaining life.  Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death.  Hospice exists in the hope and belief that through appropriate care, and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, patients and their families may be free to attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them.  Hospice offers palliative care to all terminally ill people and their families without regard for diagnosis, gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, disability, age, place of residence, or ability to pay.

Hospice Care is Holistic with Emphasis on Quality of Life

Hospice Provides Services 24 Hours a Day

Hospice Care is Based on Need

Hospice Provides Bereavement Care

Hospice Provides Continuity of Care

Hospice Emphasizes Quality Patient Care, Education, and Research

 

 

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