Settings for Terminal Care

Abstract

The leading questions about delivery of terminal care have shifted somewhat over recent years. Not long ago the major questions were a) Is there a need for palliative care services? b) Does hospice care make a difference to the well-being of the patient and family?, and c) Is hospice care less costly than conventional care? Although continued investigation is needed into these questions, another set of issues has started to take precedence: the ability of various hospice programs to survive financially, the contributions of various models of hospice care, the impact of Medicare legislation on the hospice movement, the demonstration of an unique hospice intervention, the integration of spiritual care into hospice programs, and the role of hospice in the care of individuals with AIDS. These topics are examined, with reference to existing studies where available, and suggestions for future research are given.