Hospice is a philosophy of specialized care for terminally ill patients, with a mission to maintain or improve the quality of life for both patients and their families. Hospice provides palliative care for individuals who meet specific hospice eligibility requirements. Palliative care is a form of care provided to individuals with serious illnesses aimed at diminishing physical, emotional, and spiritual pain for patients and their families.

History of Hospice

In the 1950s, Cicely Saunders, an English nurse, social worker, and medical doctor, founded the hospice movement. While working as a social worker, she was assigned a terminally ill 40-year-old patient, David Tasma. During this experience, the two developed a very close relationship and often discussed ideas for what would eventually be known as hospice care. Following Tasma’s ...

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