Hospice is an approach to caring for a patient with a terminal illness who has a life expectancy of six months or less. Licensed hospice programs in the state of Maryland provide support and comfort to the patient and the family during the final months of life by offering palliative care, which gives relief from pain and other symptoms, rather than curative treatment. The goal of hospice is to ensure that a patient's remaining time is as pain-free and peaceful as possible.
Hospice care improves the quality of life for the patient by providing a personalized plan of care that focuses on the patient's comfort and dignity. Hospice staff respect the wishes of the patient, and encourage communication among family members and the medical team.
Three topics will be covered in this section:
| The
word “hospice” is derived from the Latin word, “hospitium”
meaning guesthouse. The word was used in medieval Europe to describe
a shelter for sick and tired travelers returning from religious
pilgrimages. The modern hospice movement began in England in the
1960's when Dr. Cicely Saunders established St. Christopher's
Hospice in London. This center used a team approach to provide compassionate
pain management for dying patients. |
| “You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.” – Dame Cicely Saunders |