Hospice is not a specific place - it is a specialized program of care for patients with a limited life expectancy and for their family and friends.

The goals for hospice are to keep the patient as comfortable as possible by relieving pain and other discomforting symptoms; to prepare for a death that follows the wishes and needs of the patient; and to reassure both the patient and family members by helping them to understand and manage by helping them to understand and manage what is happening. This support assists patients and families through the process of pain Control is one of the most important means the use of medication. Hospice strives to relieve pain without impairing the patient's alertness. Other ways hospice workers help make patients more comfortable are through a wide variety of therapies and treatment modalities.