This philosophy affirms life and exists to provide support and care
for terminally ill persons with the aim of alleviating suffering and augmenting
quality of life.
Hospice programs emphasize care at home whether in an individual home
or in a supportive care residence.
Home hospice care is provided by an agency consisting of multi-disciplinary
providers (nursing, physicians, social work, chaplaincy, dietician, volunteers)
that enrolls terminally ill patients into their program. Hospice workers
then make regular house calls (in the patient’s home or supportive
care residence) and assess the symptoms and create a plan of care. Hospice
nurses connect with the terminally ill patient’s primary care physician
and obtain the orders for the necessary medications to manage the patient's
symptoms.
