Hospice Not Hospital
Although the terms hospice and hospital are rooted in the same Latin word meaning “guest house” or “hospitality,” a hospice is not the same as a hospital. A hospital is a place where sick people go to get well; hospice is a philosophy of care that involves helping terminally ill patients to live the best life they can live for as much time as they have, and giving them the opportunity to die well when the time comes.

Thirty years ago, the hospice movement was in its fledgling stages in the U.S. and virtually unknown among the general public. Today, 1.3 million people are receiving hospice care, most of them in the comfort of their own homes. Hospice professionals and volunteers not only provide pain and symptom control for patients in the end stages of life, but also spiritual counseling, emotional support and practical assistance for patients and their families.

Evaluating Hospice Services
When it comes to choosing hospice care, Bachrach compares the process to finding a college for a high school student – something most folks wouldn’t wait until the last minute to do. Here are some of her suggestions on how to choose the best hospice:

• Visit hospices while you’re healthy. Even if you live for many years, you’ll never know when a parent, sibling or spouse might need hospice services, and when that time comes, your preparation will be invaluable.
• Ask questions. Find out about staffing. Is weekend coverage a problem? How many nurses and volunteers are on call? What is the staff-to-patient ratio? Make sure that some of the hospice’s personnel live within a reasonable distance from you. Also, talk to a few volunteers from the hospice and ask the pointed questions that concern you (for example, how’s the food?). And be sure to ask about the hospice’s bereavement care and other services for family members.
• Visit the inpatient unit. Although odds are that you or your loved one won’t spend any time there, the cleanliness and comfort of the facility may be indicators of the hospice’s overall quality and commitment to patient care.