Which statement about hospice care is true?

• A. It provides palliative care to terminally ill individuals and is appropriate when death is anticipated within six months.
• B. It focuses on curative therapy for all diseases.
• C. It is only available for pediatric patients.
• D. It is provided only in hospital settings.

Answer: (A)

Hospice care centers on comfort and quality of life for patients with terminal illness, not trying to cure the disease. It is appropriate when death is anticipated within about six months, and care shifts toward relieving symptoms and supporting both patient and family. An interdisciplinary team coordinates pain and symptom control, psychosocial and spiritual support, and practical planning, and care can be delivered at home, in an inpatient hospice facility, or in other settings. This distinguishes hospice from curative therapies aimed at disease eradication, from programs limited to pediatrics, and from care that occurs only in hospital settings.