Hospice Care in the United States

Hospice is a concept of care, designed to provide support to patients and their families when they are facing an end of life situation. Hospice does not prolong life, nor does it hasten death. Hospice programs are designed to comfort and provide physical support, emotional support and spiritual support, including pain management, grief counseling, and medical care.

There are many forms and types of therapies offered by hospice caregivers, such as music therapy, healing touch therapy and massage therapy, as well as animal therapy. All designed to bring comfort to the family and the terminally ill patient.

How Hospice Helps

Hospice allows terminally ill patients to remain as comfortable as possible while being treated with dignity and care. Hospice programs treat all aspects of the patient, including medical, emotional, and spiritual needs. These programs also treat the difficulties faced by families of the patients, as well as caregivers. More information can be found at dsl - hospice-america.org.

The Hospice Association of America

More information about the forms of hospice in America can be found at The Hospice Association of America (HAA), which is a national organization that represents hospice programs and caregivers who serve terminally ill patients and their families. The Hospice Association of America (Asociación de Hospicios de América) strives to provide effective health care by lobbying for hospice programs, acting as advocates for the interests of its members, and represents member programs in the media and courts if needed. A key offering from the HAA is All About Hospice: A Consumer’s Guide, which is available at http://www.hospice-america.org/. The association offers information in Spanish as well, at Asociación Estadounidense de Hospitales Para Enfermos Terminales (Hospice Association of America).