The Philosophy of Hospice Care
Hospice provides appropriate skilled, compassionate care to patients and their families so that they receive the support, help and guidance they need to meet the challenges of serious illness. A personalized plan of care incorporating what is important to the patient and the caregiver is developed. It is sensitive to their needs and emphasizes quality of life, and assists patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible. The philosophy of care that we call HOSPICE has been practiced in New York State for more than two decades.
Hospice…
- Embraces all patients coping with advanced illnesses
- Focuses on comfort rather than cure
- Emphasizes quality of life
- Promotes personal choice and individual dignity
- Respects the traditions and wishes of the patient and the patient's family
- Most often provides care in the patient's home, but when necessary, can also provide care in the nursing home and inpatient setting
- Utilizes current treatments and medications
- Addresses physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs
- Provides care and support to the bereaved
Palliative Care…
Many hospice programs have added palliative care to their names to reflect the range of care and services they provide, as hospice care and palliative care share the same core values and philosophies. As defined by the World Health organization, palliative care seeks to address not only physical pain, but also emotional, social and spiritual pain to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care extends the principles of hospice care to a broader population that could benefit from receiving this type of care earlier in their illness or disease process.
Welcome