Hospice and Palliative Care Program
Hospice is a word that has come down to us from the Middle Ages, when it was used to describe a waystation where travelers, pilgrims and ill people could rely on receiving safe care and safe treatment. It comes from the same root word as hospitality and hospital. The term hospice has come to mean a philosophy of care for those who have reached end of life.
The focus of this care is on managing symptoms, pain control and emotional support. The emphasis of care is on achieving the highest quality of life for hospice patients and their families - whether it is a few days or many months.
The Hospice program at Addison County Home Health and Hospice is designed to meet the unique needs of each of our patients and his/her family. Collaboration among team members and with other providers is a priority. We want to be sure that anything that may help is available and utilized. We encourage active participation by patients and family members in all decisions regarding care including suggested changes in treatment.
The Hospice program offers a thoughtful, comprehensive and respectful approach to end of life care. This is a time for families to say and do all those things they have always talked about. Certainly, a sad and difficult time, it is also a time for healing and a time for joy. The Hospice program can make one of the hardest times in a family's experience become a special time.