[The possibilities and problems of a home setting hospice service for a patient living alone]

We provided home care service for a patient in the terminal stage of lung cancer. This patient had some difficulties, such as living by himself, having little financial means, and unable to use welfare programs because of the age restrictions of certain institutions. We, however, arranged the home care the patient wanted by carefully making contact with the health and welfare institutions involved. Through this case, we reported the possibilities and problems of a home setting hospice service for a patient living alone.