Physical therapy and hospice. Concept and practice

Hospice, a concept for dying patients and their families, combines human intervention and sophisticated medical pharmacological treatment. With careful planning and nurturance, hospice can be an agent of change in the care of terminally ill patients. For this change to persist, the health-care professional must understand the tenets of hospice and the potential roles for caregivers within this philosophy. The purpose of this article is to provide 1) a definitive description of hospice and the tenets that make it unique within the health-care system, 2) an explanation of the roles the physical therapist can fulfill as a member of a hospice-care team, and 3) a discussion of the implications for educators of health-care professionals that the alternative approach of hospice presents.