With time and the advance of medicine, birth and death were transplanted to a new and often strange and intimidating environment: the modern hospital, where family members were merely guests and control rested with unknown health professionals.

While acknowledging the many benefits of modern medicine, a group of clergy, healthcare workers and other thoughtful people began wondering, in the 1970’s, whether these advances, by depriving the natural dying process of its family ties, had not also robbed it of its dignity. Out of their concerns, hospice care was born in the United States and the natural process of dying was returned to the home.

Hospice is a comprehensive program of medical care and support for people nearing the end of life. The hospice philosophy is based on several ideas:

• No one should die alone or in pain.
• Life-limiting illness can cause emotional and spiritual distress as well as physical pain, all of which deserve quality professional attention and compassionate care.
• A serious illness affects the entire family, not just the person who is ill; those affected need and deserve ongoing support before and after a loved one’s death.

Hospice provides palliative care – care that focuses on the patient’s comfort and quality of life, when curing the disease is not a realistic possibility. Hospice strives to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and the entire family during the illness and beyond.

Hospice care includes nursing care, medical social services, physician services, counseling, homemaker services, medical equipment (such as wheelchairs or walkers), medical supplies (such as bandages and catheters), medications needed for symptom contriol and pain relief, short-term care in the hospital (including respite care), physical, occupational and speech therapies, dietary counseling and counseling to help you and your family with grief and loss.