| hospice | An institution that provides a centralised program of palliative and supportive services to dying persons and their families, in the form of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care; such services are provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers who are available at home and in specialised inpatient settings. Origin: L. Hospitium, hospitality, lodging, fr. Hospes, guest (05 Mar 2000) |
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| hospice care | Specialised health care, supportive in nature, provided to a dying person. A holistic approach is often taken, providing the patient and his or her family with legal, financial, emotional, or spiritual counseling in addition to meeting the patient's immediate physical needs. Care may be provided in the home, in the hospital, in specialised facilities (hospices), or in specially designated areas of long-term care facilities. The concept also includes bereavement care for the family. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hospices | Facilities or services which are especially devoted to providing palliative and supportive care to the patient with a terminal illness and to the patient's family. (12 Dec 1998) |