What is Hospice Palliative care?
The terms hospice and palliative care are used interchangeably in most parts of Canada. Hospice palliative care – or comfort care – is an integrated program in which expert physical, social, emotional and spiritual support is provided to patients and family members coping with advanced illness, death and bereavement. Find out more about the history of hospice palliative care.
Hospice palliative care provides physical, psychological, social, spiritual and practical support to people living with a life-threatening illness and to their loved ones. The terms hospice care and palliative care are both used to refer to the same thing which is a specific approach to care. However, some people use hospice care to describe care that is offered in the community as free-standing or volunteer based programs, rather than in hospitals. In 2002 the term Hospice Palliative Care was coined to recognize the blending of both models of care. Nelson & District Hospice Society is a member of The BC Hospice Palliative Care Association and the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.
The terms hospice and palliative care are used interchangeably in most parts of Canada. Hospice palliative care – or comfort care – is an integrated program in which expert physical, social, emotional and spiritual support is provided to clients and family members coping with life threatening illness, death or bereavement.
