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In Medieval times, a "hospice" was a way station for weary pilgrims. Today, it serves a similar function of supportive, quality care for those at the end of their life journey.
Hospice is a Medicare benefit, providing comfort care and pain relief for people who are judged terminally ill--that is, with six months or less to live. Hospice services can be delivered at home or in an institutional setting, and benefits include nursing care, respite for caregiver and family, spiritual and bereavement counseling, medical equipment and supplies, social work services, on-call nursing care, and prescription co-payments.
Hospice care involves an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, aides, volunteers, social workers and clergy, who put together and monitor a care plan that involves the entire family throughout the process. Family members can be trained to do certain low-tech medical procedures such as injections, while hospice workers can also help with questions about insurance, funeral plans, death certificates, etc.
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