Hospice is a specialized form of care for individuals in the last stages of a terminal illness. Hospice care is rooted in the centuries-old tradition of preparing gifts for those embarking on a long journey. Today hospice care provides physical, emotional and spiritual support for dying individuals and their families.
“We knew that Mark’s prognosis wasn’t good, but we also knew that we had today and that we had help from hospice. With that, we decided to do what we could for today – and for each day remaining. Our hope was to make one good memory of each day. One day it was a special lunch for just the two of us; another day we organized pictures and recorded stories for the kids. Simple things like that. When you think about it, it’s not a bad way for anybody to live.”
-Wife of a hospice patient
Hospice care…
- emphasizes the quality of life in the remaining days, weeks or months;
- focuses on the person, not the disease, and also cares for the family;
- provides relief from the physical, emotional and spiritual pain that often
accompanies a terminal illness; - provides grief support for surviving loved ones.
Hospice care is appropriate for people of any age or religious faith and with any terminal illness.
Excerpts from “Choosing Hospice: A Consumer’s Guide.” Click here to order multiple copies. Individuals may contact Hospice Minnesota for a complimentary copy.