Issue 44.10
The term “Hospice” comes from the Latin, “hospes”, meaning host. The word can be traced back to medieval times, when it referred to a place of shelter for weary or ill travelers. Hospice now refers to a type of medical care for people whose illness may no longer be curable.
The term Hospice was first applied to specialized care for patients facing end of life in 1967 by physician, Dame Cicily Saunders. Dr. Saunders founded the first modern Hospice, St. Christopher’s, in England in the 1960’s.
Dr. Saunders was first a nurse in World War II. After the war she studied to become an “almoner” – similar to a Medical Social Worker, before receiving her medical degree. During this time, Dr. Saunders became convinced of the need for better and more holistic care for people facing end of life.
The Hospice concept arrived in the United States in 1963, when Dr. Saunders lectured to a group of medical professionals at Yale University. Florence Wald, the Dean of the (then) Yale School of Nursing became enthralled with the new approach to patient medical care. Ms. Wald took a sabbatical and traveled to England to study under Dr. Saunders to learn about Hospice.
Florence Wald founded the first in-home Hospice agency in the United States.
The Hospice philosophy is to give patients the type of medical care they need to live life as fully as possible, for as long as possible. Hospice workers support patients and their families physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Hospice patients are able to live without pain.
Recent research, published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, indicates that Hospice patients live an average of 29 days longer than similar patients not receiving Hospice care. Thank You for your vision, Dr. Saunders!
If you or any of your loved ones want information about Hospice, please contact Zion’s Way at (435) 688-0648.