What is the focus of hospice care?

Hospice care is fundamentally about providing comprehensive support and comfort to individuals facing life-threatening conditions, particularly in the final stages of life. This model emphasizes a team-based approach that incorporates various healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and spiritual care providers, all working collaboratively to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of both patients and their families.

The focus on a team approach allows for holistic care, which is crucial in hospice settings, as it not only helps manage symptoms and provide pain relief but also offers psychological support, assistance with decision-making, and helps facilitate communication among family members and the healthcare team.

While palliative care (the broader category that includes hospice) does occur in hospital settings, hospice care is specifically intended for patients who are no longer seeking curative treatment and instead wish to enhance their quality of life as they near the end of life. The emphasis on curative treatment and preventative health services diverges from the objectives of hospice care, which is geared towards comfort and quality of life rather than pursuing a cure.