It is human nature to avoid talking about difficult subjects. Nobody wants to deliver bad news or be the reminder of troubling events. Hence the phrase, “Don’t kill the messenger.”  However, we must have courage and proceed with these conversations at critical times in our lives. Some of the most difficult of these talks surrounds the failing health of loved ones. Even the most brilliant conversationalist can be at a loss when broaching the subject of a parent or spouse’s health dilemma.

People in our society remain profoundly uncomfortable with the dying process and even with discussing the needs of the dying. With our aging population, more and more people are confronting this challenge for themselves or for their parents.

Hospice is care that is provided during the last few months of a person’s life. People frequently think of hospice as a place. While hospice care may be provided in an inpatient facility or nursing home, hospice is actually a program and a philosophy of care that focuses on treatment of symptoms in the terminally ill patient. Hospice care can be provided in the home as well. The hospice philosophy includes treating physical, emotional and spiritual symptoms. Hospice care extends to the emotional and spiritual concerns of the family as well.  This unique approach to the family as the unit of care enables those closest to the patient to be included in treatment issues.