Which term describes end-of-life care that emphasizes comfort and dignity?

Which term describes end-of-life care that emphasizes comfort and dignity?

• A. Palliative
• B. Hospice
• C. Terminal
• D. Postmortem

Answer: (B)

Hospice care centers on comfort and preserving dignity at the end of life. It aims to relieve symptoms like pain and breathlessness, provide emotional and spiritual support, and help the patient live as fully and comfortably as possible in their remaining time, while also supporting family members. This approach is usually chosen when curative treatment isn’t pursued and a prognosis of six months or less is expected, though it can be delivered in the home, a hospice facility, or another setting. Palliative care also focuses on comfort but isn’t limited to end-of-life and can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. Terminal describes the condition of a disease that will lead to death, not a care approach. Postmortem relates to events after death.

Hospice care centers on comfort and preserving dignity at the end of life. It aims to relieve symptoms like pain and breathlessness, provide emotional and spiritual support, and help the patient live as fully and comfortably as possible in their remaining time, while also supporting family members. This approach is usually chosen when curative treatment isn’t pursued and a prognosis of six months or less is expected, though it can be delivered in the home, a hospice facility, or another setting.

Palliative care also focuses on comfort but isn’t limited to end-of-life and can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. Terminal describes the condition of a disease that will lead to death, not a care approach. Postmortem relates to events after death.