Volunteers also provide many helpful services to the patient and family.
Basically, hospices are required to provide the services which the patient and the family need to meet their needs related to the terminal illness. It is important to realize that the family is included in the equation of what services are to be provided, because the hospice benefit is geared toward the patient and family as a unit. When there is a change in the hospice patient, it affects the family as well, and problems in the family affect the patient. Hospice is there to support you through these times and help make the quality of life the very best possible under the circumstances. If there is a crisis in which the patient's symptoms are uncontrolled, you can expect to have around the clock nursing in your own home, for brief periods up to 3 days.