Hospice Care Overview
Internship Home Page

Hospice care provides humane and compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable
disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice is a philosophy of care. The hospice philosophy recognizes death as the final stage of life and seeks to enable patients to maintain an alert, pain-free life so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease; it emphasizes quality rather than length of life. It provides family-centered care involving the patient and family in making decisions.

Hospice care is appropriate for patients who can no longer benefit from curative treatment and life expectancy is at most 6 months. A patient, his/her family and doctor decide together when hospice services should begin. If a patient’s condition improves or the disease goes into remission, he/she can be discharged from the hospice program and return to active cancer treatment, if desired. Hospice care may be resumed at a later time.

Typically, an interdisciplinary health care team of physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and trained volunteers cares for patients, offering support based on their particular areas of expertise. Together, they provide comprehensive palliative care intended to relieve symptoms and provide social, emotional, and spiritual support.

Distinguishing Elements of Hospice Care

Northfield Hospice Staff

Hospice Minnesota Website