There are certain medical conditions or diseases wherein no amount of medical treatment could restore the health of the patient. Even when all the possible treatments have already been exhausted, there are cases when the disease is already at a terminal stage. When this happens and especially when the only possible option is death, the patient will be administered hospice care. What differentiates hospice care from typical hospital care is that the former provides the patient with the needed means for pain alleviation, so as to reduce the suffering experienced by the patient. This also helps the patient enjoy his or her last few days.

In the past years, the term hospice was taken to mean as a place of shelter typically provided to travellers who have arrived from a long and exhausting journey. The term is also rooted from “hospitality” which entails the provision of assistance to visitors and travellers. It was in the year 1967, at St. Christopher’s Hospital, located in London, when the concept took in a whole new meaning, and was dedicated to the type of care given to patients with terminal illnesses. Through hospice care facilities, individuals who are suffering from incurable diseases are provided with sympathetic and supportive care.