Philosophy of care for the dying Philosophy of care for the dying Hospice is about living, about giving people access to what they need so they will have the best possible quality of life during a difficult time. That is, they are opting for palliative, or comfort, care. Therefore, the main medical intervention is symptom management, including pain control. In addition, the family continues to receive help after the patient dies.
Many people mistakenly associate hospice only with sorrow.
However, most hospice experiences include times of joy and peace and heartwarming closeness. People often comment that hospice experiences, although involving a death, give them a deeper understanding of life. Choosing hospice care for oneself or a loved one can be a difficult decision. Patients and their families may have spent many months or years concentrating on curative care designed to halt the disease process, opting for chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. Hospice becomes appropriate when the focus on curing is no longer supporting quality of life.