A hospice provides care and support for people with terminal illnesses or conditions who no longer want major medical interventions. The goal of hospice care is to allow people to live out their final days as painlessly as possible, in a setting of their choice, while they and their families and friends get love and support.

Sometimes people think of a hospice as a building. Many hospices do offer an inpatient unit. Sometimes people are admitted who are dying and who do not want to die at home or in the hospital. At other times, people with terminal illnesses may be admitted for what it called respite care. This gives his or her family a break. They may spend a few days or a week at the hospice facility and then return home.

Many hospices now also have outreach programs which provide care for people with terminal illnesses at home. Services can include nursing care, counseling, social work services, family support, and support by clergy. After care services are usually available for families or significant others. These usually consist of group or individual grief counseling.

It may take a referral from a physician to get someone enrolled in a hospice. The rules for enrollment may change from one hospice to another. Some programs may offer pre-hospice counseling to people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Many people have the idea that you will no longer get medical care once you are enrolled in a hospice plan. This is not true. You can get medications for pain and symptom control. Most hospices do not provide invasive or extreme measures like surgery, respirators, dialysis, chemotherapy, or radiation. Guidelines will differ at each hospice. Many insurance plans now cover hospice services. Some not-for-profit hospices will provide services even without insurance coverage.

Hospices can make illness and death much easier for the patient and the family. Hospices often encourage visitors, provide lounges for family, and may allow family to bring pets in to visit. They are much less restrictive than hospitals. Hospices can also insure a pain-free illness and a comfortable death. If someone you know has a terminal illness, think about the option of hospice care. To learn more, call the National Hospice Organization at (800) 658-8898.

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