Hospice Philosophy

Hospice, as an option in the medical care system, exists not to hasten or postpone death, but with special skills and therapies, to help the patient and family live as fully as possible. Death is not denied, but life is affirmed and lived until that transition takes place.

Dying is a universal fact of life and, whether or not it is accompanied by disease, this transition is a normal process. We believe that every person is entitled to participate fully in this part of life in order to prepare for death in a way that is personally satisfactory.

Patients are viewed individually, considering all aspects of the illness and its effects on the patient, family, caregiver, and loved ones. The over-riding aims are the relief of pain and suffering and the achievement of a peaceful death, free from physical and emotional distress.

The patient and the family are seen as a unit of care, with support to the family continuing into the bereavement period.

We believe that we are all dependent on one another therefore, it is crucial, in the last few months of life, to help develop a caring community that can provide comprehensive services to patients and their families.

We recognize that human growth and development can be a lifelong process. Hospice seeks to preserve and promote the inherent potential for growth within individuals and families during the last phase of life. Hospice offers palliative care for all individuals and their families without regard to age, gender, nationality, race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, diagnosis, availability of a primary caregiver, or ability to pay.

Hospice programs provide state-of-the-art palliative care and supportive services to individuals at the end of their lives, their family members and significant others, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in both the home and facility-based care settings.

Physical, social, spiritual, and emotional care is provided by a clinically-directed interdisciplinary team consisting of patients and their families, professionals, and volunteers during the: Last stages of an illness; Dying process; and Bereavement period.

The test of palliative care lies in the agreement between the individual, physician(s), primary caregiver, and the hospice team that the expected outcome is relief from distressing symptoms, the easing of pain, and/or the enhancing the quality of life.

The decision to intervene with active palliative care is based on an ability to meet stated goals rather than affect the underlying disease. An individuals needs must continue to be assessed and all treatment options explored and evaluated in the context of the individuals values and symptoms.

The individual choices and decisions regarding care are paramount and must be followed at all times.

Mother Teresa is best known for her work among the dying destitute in Calcutta, India. She states, Food, shelter and care are what the dying need, but even greater is their need for being wanted. What you can do, I cannot do, and what I can do you cannot do. Together we can do something beautiful for God.

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