The hospice movement has been developed to serve older persons and others in need of a particular level of medical and nursing care. In ancient times, hospices were a sanctuary for the poor wayfarer, and medieval hospices were operated by religious orders. Hospices have been revived today as care facilities for the dying and their families. Patients are admitted to the facility at the request of their doctor. They generally have one of several diseases with a terminal prognosis, some to stay, some to return home again, and some who improve to be returned to a treatment hospital. All patients receive personal care. Bereaved families are supported by visits from the staff and volunteers.
The hospice is actually a flexible concept which can fit into many settings. Some hospices today function in an established hospital setting, while others have independent inpatient facilities or are affiliated with some other community service. Many offer home care and bereavement services. Two divergent types of hospice seem to be developing: 1) independent and heavily volunteer hospices with unstable funding; and 2) institutionally based hospices providing both inpatient and home care. Hospices have encountered some funding difficulty, but Congress recently voted to extend Medicare coverage to hospice care, primarily because it is less expensive than hospitals or nursing homes. This coverage remains limited, but it does indicate national recognition of the value of the hospice approach. The first hospices were developed in New Haven, and within a decade the concept received such wide recognition that Ronald Reagan declared November 7-14, 1982 as National Hospice Week to encourage government agencies, the medical community, private organizations, and citizens to participate in programs to encourage the hospice movement.
The hospice solution is considered a viable alternative to the mode of death prevalent in America today. The B...