Hospice is no longer a place, but rather an ideal and philosophy of
care for those nearing the end of life. The purpose remains the same - to
find rest, to be cared for and to gather courage in the face of life’s
challenges. Journey Song was established, in collaboration with Seacoast
Hospice, to provide companionship, comfort and joy during life’s final journey.
Hospice is the art and science of palliative care—physical, emotional
and spiritual—at the end of life. The goal of hospice is to create a caring
community to support individuals and families in the midst of life-limiting illness.
Death is not denied, but life is affirmed and lived fully until death comes.
Hospice also provides support for bereaved families.
The term hospice comes from the Latin word hospes,
which means to host a guest or stranger. Hospices were
places of rest for travelers in the 14th century. In the 19th century,
the sick and dying were taken into monasteries and cared for by monks and wealthy widows.
The modern hospice movement originated in the United Kingdom with the founding of
St. Christopher’s Hospice in 1967, by Dame Cicely Saunders.
Hospice in the United States began as an all-volunteer service; it was not until
1984 that Medicare established a hospice benefit that provided for a broader
array of palliative treatments.
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