Hospice

Susan Schneeberger

Hospice is a multidisciplinary approach to caring for individuals who have a terminal illness or condition. It is based on a philosophy that affirms life and advocates self-determination. The family is considered the unit of care and the hospice team of professionals provides medical, emotional, and spiritual assistance to patients as well as to their families and friends. Typically a team includes physicians, nurses, chaplains, social workers, counselors, nursing assistants, holistic practitioners, trained volunteers, and administrative and clerical staff. Services may be provided in an inpatient setting, long-term care facility, or the patient's home. The word hospice is derived from the Latin hospitium , an inn for travelers usually maintained by members of a religious order. Jeanne Gamier, founder of the Dames de Calaire in Lyon, France, first used the name with reference to the care of dying patients in 1842. In 1879 the Irish Sisters of Charity opened Our ...

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