The hospice concept of care: facing the 1990s

Although hospice is a widely accepted form of care for the terminally ill, there is still a misconception that hospice represents a place, rather than a form of care. Hospice is designed to address three major problems of dying: pain, loneliness, and loss of control. It also emphasizes the role of the family in the caregiving process. The greatest need today in hospice is the increased involvement of the medical profession. Hospice must also expand to include not only cancer patients, but anyone who is dying, including AIDS patients. The future of hospice is bright, but it needs our commitment, our time, and our prayers.