Hospice care

Classification

{{This medical treatment related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.}}

Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering. Hospice care can be provided in various settings including the patient's home, hospice centers, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

History

The modern concept of hospice care began in the late 19th century but was significantly developed in the 1960s by Dame Cicely Saunders, a British nurse who created the first modern hospice, St. Christopher's Hospice, in London. Hospice care has since spread globally, adapting to various healthcare systems while maintaining its core principles of compassionate, end-of-life care.

Philosophy

The philosophy of hospice care is to provide a holistic approach to treatment, addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. The goal is not to cure the underlying disease but to offer comfort and support, ensuring the highest quality of life possible for the time remaining.

Services Provided

Hospice care teams typically include physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and volunteers. Each team member contributes to the care delivered, including:

• Managing the patient's pain and symptoms;
• Providing emotional and spiritual support to the patient and family;
• Offering a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in bereavement;
• Making necessary referrals to other services as needed.

Eligibility

Hospice care is available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness who have been certified by a physician as being in the last stages of life, typically with six months or less to live.

Impact

Studies have shown that hospice care can significantly improve the quality of life for patients, reduce the burden on caregivers, and even extend the lives of some patients compared to similar patients who do not choose hospice services.

Challenges

Despite its benefits, hospice care faces challenges such as underutilization, particularly among certain demographic groups, due to lack of awareness or misconceptions about what hospice involves. Additionally, there are ongoing discussions about funding and healthcare policy affecting hospice services.

See Also

• Palliative care
• End-of-life care
• Pain management