Hospice is a special way of caring for someone when a cure is no longer realistic. The focus of hospice is on care – compassionate care that enables patients to continue an alert, pain-free life surrounded by those they love. Hospice provides care that includes the family in all decisions.
Hospice care neither prolongs nor hastens death, but provides specialized support during the transition from this life to the next. Most of all, the call for hospice does not signify the end of hope, but simply a change of focus. Patients who get better or wish to seek active treatment for their terminal illness, may discontinue hospice service and go back at a later time.