Learn About Hospice Before Illness Strikes

“You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.” ~Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the first modern hospice in London, 1968

In our great-grandparent’s time, birth and death were commonplace in the family home. With the evolution of medicine, birth and death have been transplanted to hospitals, often strange and intimidating environments where the patient and family members are guests and control rests with unknown health professionals.

Hospice has its roots in the Middle Ages when shelters called hospices were available to travelers who had nowhere else to stay. The word took on new meaning when the first modern hospice was founded in London in 1968. The founder, Dame Cicely Saunders, believed existing institutions geared to curing people were ignoring the special needs of the dying.

In the United States, while acknowledging the many benefits of modern medicine, a group of clergy, health-care workers, and other thoughtful people began wondering whether these advances had robbed the family of the dignity of the natural process of dying. Out of their concerns hospice care was born and the natural process of dying was returned to the home. The first American hospice was started in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1974. From the beginning, the American model stressed hospice as a home service. Hospice has experienced extraordinary growth since then, with nearly 2,500 hospices now serving people in every state of the union.

Bringing death out into the open and making sickness and loss a time of sharing and remembrance has been difficult. And while the hospice experience may not be for everyone, those who choose hospice might find the specialness of caring for a loved one and the richness of sharing memories a rewarding experience never to be forgotten.

The earlier hospice is involved the more it can help the patient. Ideally everyone should make their views about end of life known to their families long before any illness strikes. Drawing up a living will and durable power of attorney can help ensure one's wishes come to fruition. State laws and hospice services differ. Consult an attorney and we urge you to contact Well House Hospice to find out about our programs in Long Beach.