Hospice is not a specific place - it is a specialized program of care for patients with a limited life expectancy.   Hospice is there to help family and friends through this transition of life.

The goals for hospice are to keep the patient as comfortable as possible by relieving pain and other discomforting symptoms; to prepare for a death that follows the wishes and needs of the patient; and to reassure both the patient and family members by helping them to understand and manage what is happening. Pain control is one of the most important aspects of palliative care and sometimes requires the use of medication. Hospice strives to relieve pain without impairing the patient's alertness. Through a wide variety of therapies and treatment modalities hospice workers help to make patient s more comfortable.