Hospice Care

Hospice is a philosophy of care. The hospice philosophy recognizes death as the final stage of life and seeks to enable patients to continue an alert, pain-free life and to manage other symptoms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease; it emphasizes quality rather than length of life. It provides family-centered care involving the patient and family in making decisions. Care is provided for the patient and family 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Hospice care can be given in the patient's home, a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility. Most hospice care in the U.S. is given in the home, with a family member serving as the main hands-on caregiver.

Hospice care is appropriate when you can no longer benefit from curative treatment and life expectancy is, at most, no longer than 6 months. You, your family, and your doctor decide together when hospice services should begin. If your condition improves or the disease goes into remission, you can be discharged from the hospice program and return to active cancer treatment, if desired. Hospice care may be resumed at a later time.

To find out more about hospice care and how we can be of service, please visit the hospice care section of the Winyah Community Hospice Care web site.