The Hospice of Charleston Foundation

About Hospice
Hospice refers to a philosophy of holistic care for individuals and families dealing with the end stages of terminal illness. Dignity, comfort, and support are central components of hospice care, which is palliative rather that curative. Hospice care providers do not interfere with the process of dying to either speed it or slow it. Rather, they work to ease this natural journey as much as possible for individuals and their families by providing physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support and care.

Hospice care is available either in-home or in external facilities such as the Hospice Center of Mount Pleasant. Patients receive many layers of care through the services of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and volunteers. As each patient is unique, they are individually served to meet their end-of-life needs and provide support to their families.

For more information on hospice and hospice care:
http://www.nhpco.org or http://www.hospicenet.org


"When you are living with someone who is terminally ill and together you are facing death, hospice brings truth, understanding, comfort, reassurance...and most importantly, dignity and a peace with the dying process. This is the power of the organization of hospice and the professionals who serve it."
- Katherine G., wife of hospice patient


"We realized that being present, without institutional support, at the time of [our mother's] death was a huge responsibility. We were anxious about our ability to take proper care of her and to make good decisions on her behalf when the need to do so became evident. Then entered the hospice nurse and we were no longer alone...She did me a huge favor by giving me permission to be a daughter, not a nurse."
- Katherine M. , daughter of hospice patient


"Hospice is wonderful - I could never have done it without them. Daddy died in his own room and the last words he heard on this earth were: 'Thank you, God, for letting this man be my daddy!'"
- Janet, daughter of hospice patient