Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The hospice: Humane care for the dying

  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The hospice movement arose as a reaction to the dehumanizing atmosphere of acute-care hospitals, where excessive utilization of life support equipment deprived dying patients of a meaningful vision of their destiny. Respecting the spiritual quest of the terminally ill for wholeness and dignity, the hospice concept prescribes the rendering of compassionate and pastoral care by a benevolent community of family, health care staff, friends, and clergy. Approximately 800 hospice programs are currently evolving in the United States. St. Mary's (formerly “Hillhaven”) Hospice in Tucson, Arizona, offers the most comprehensive program of services, including home care, inpatient care, and artistic media through which the dying express their creativity. Numerous demonstration projects funded by several government agencies, principally the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), are expected to result in the legislative actions eliminating barriers to reimbursement of the cost of hospice services by Medicare, Medicaid, and other third-party payers. Existential analysis reveals the value of religion and spiritual support in enabling the dying to banish anxiety and muster the hope requisite for fully appreciating the authentic meaning of their destiny.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Metzger, A.,Freedom and Death. London, Chaucer Publ. Co., Human Context Books, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Parsons, T., “Death in the Western World.” In Reich, W. T., ed.Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Vol. 1. New York, Free Press, 1978, p. 257.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Butler, R. N.,Why Survive? Being Old in America. New York, Harper and Row, 1975, p. 380.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Heidegger, M.,Being and Time (1927), Macquarrie, J., and Robinson, E., trans. London, Library of Philosophy and Theology, SCM Press, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rahner, K.,On the Theology of Death. New York, Herder & Herder, 1961, p. 77.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Walter, N. T.,The Coming of Death in America: Concepts in Transition. Washington D. C., National Clearinghouse on Aging, Administration on Aging, Department of Health, Education & Welfare, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Corbett, T. L., and Hai, D. M., “Searching for Euthanatos: The Hospice Alternative,”Hospital Progress. 1979,60, 3, 38–41.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Davidson, G. N., “In Search of Models of Care.” InThe Hospice, Development and Administration. Washington (State), Hemisphere Publishing Co., 1978, pp. 145–161.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Stoddard, S.,The Hospice Movement. New York, Stein and Day, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Saunders, C., “Care for the Dying,”Patient Care, 1976,3 6.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Barber, B., “Compassion in Medicine: Toward New Definitions and New Institutions,”New England J. Medicine. 1976,295, 17, 939–943.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Strauss, A. L., and Glaser, B. G.,Anguish. A Case History of a Dying Trajectory. Mill Valley, Calif., Sociology Press, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Browning, M. H., and Lewis, E. P.,The Dying Patient: A Nursing Perspective. New York, American Journal of Nursing Co., 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Marcel, G., “Sketch of a Phenomenology and a Metaphysic of Hope”: “Value and Immortality”. InHomo Viator. New York, Harper & Row, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Crane, D.,The Sanctity of Social Life: Physicians' Treatment of Critically Ill Patients. New York. Russell Sage Foundation, 1975; Pellegrino, E. D., “Medical Ethics, Education and the Physician's Image,”J. Amer. Medical Assoc., 1976,235, 1043–1044.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wilson, D. C.; Ajemian, I.; and Mount, B. M., “Montreal (1975)— the Royal Victoria Hospital Palliative Care Service”; Wylie, N. A., “Halifax (1976) — Victoria General Hospital: A Nursing Model.” InThe Hospice, Development and Administration, op. cit.,, pp. 3–19; 21–39.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wylie,op. cit., pp. 21–39.

    Google Scholar 

  18. National Health Standards & Quality Information Clearinghouse Information Bulletin,Special Topic: Hospice Care. Washington D. C., Health Care Financing Administration, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Goldenberg, I. S., “Hospice: To Humanize Dying,”Bull. Amer. College Surgeons, 1979,64, 4, 6–9.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Briendel, C. L., and Boyle, R. M., “Implementing a Multiphased Hospice Program,”Hospital Progress, op. cit., 42–45.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Flexner, J. M., “The Hospice Movement in North America—Is It Coming of Age?’Southern Medical J., 1979,72, 3, 248–250.

    Google Scholar 

  22. National Health Standards & Quality Information Clearinghouse Information Bulletin, op. cit. Special Topic: Hospice Care. Washington D. C., Health Care Financing Administration, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  23. McIntier, T. M. Sr., “Hillhaven Hospice: A Free-standing, Family-centered Program,”Hospital Progress, op. cit.,, pp. 68–72.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ibid. McIntier, T. M., Sr., “Hillhaven Hospice: A Free-standing, Family-centered Program,”Hospital Progress, pp. 68–72.

  25. Holden, C., “Hospices: For the Dying, Relief from Pain and Fear,”Science, 1976,193, p. 389.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Baines, M.,Drug Control of Common Symptoms. London, St. Christopher's Hospice 1976, to the present.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rogers, B. L., “Using the Creative Process with the Terminally Ill.” InThe Hospice, Development and Administration, op. cit., pp. 123–126.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Corbett, T. L., and Hai, D. M.,op. cit. “, pp. 38–41.

    Google Scholar 

  29. National Health Standards & Quality Information Clearinghouse Information Bulletin, op. cit. Special Topic: Hospice Care. Washington D. C., Health Care Financing Administration, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kay, L. L., “A Cost Analysis of Three Hospice Programs,”Report of National Cancer Institute, 1981.

  31. Kassakian, M. G., et al., “The Cost and Quality of Dying: A Comparison of Home and Hospital,”Nurse Practitioner, 1979,4, 18–20.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Hollander, N., and Ehrenfried, D., “Reimbursing Hospice Care: A Blue Cross and Blue Shield Perspective,”Hospital Progress, 1979.60, 3 54–56.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Flexner,op. cit..

    Google Scholar 

  34. Davidson,op. cit..

    Google Scholar 

  35. Flexner,op. cit..

    Google Scholar 

  36. Brady, E. M., “Telling the Story: Ethics and Dying,”Hospital Progress, 1979,60, 3, 57–62.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Freud, S., “The Major Works of Sigmund Freud,”Encyclopedia Brittanica, Chicago, 1952.

  38. Davidson,op. cit..

    Google Scholar 

  39. Parsons,op. cit.,, p. 257.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Fath, G., “Pastoral Care and the Hospice,”Hospital Progress, 1979,60, 3, 73–75.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Kierkegaard, S.,Concluding Unscientific Postscript, Swenson, D. F., and Lowrie, W., trans. New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 1944, p. 147.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Marcel,op. cit..

    Google Scholar 

Supplementary References

  1. Abbott, J. W., “Hospice,”Aging, 1978,289–290 38–40.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Agich, G. J., “The Ethics of Terminal Care.” InThe Hospice, Development and Administration, Washington (State), Hemisphere Publishing Co., 1978, pp. 163–171.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Alsofrom, J. “Hospice Way of Dying—at Home with Friends and Family.“Amer. Medical News, 1977,20, 7–9.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Callan, J. P., “The Hospice Movement” (Editorial).J. Amer. Medical Assoc., 1979,241, 6, 600.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cape, R., “The Philosophy of Continuing Care.” InAging: Its Complex Management, Hagerstown, Maryland, Harper & Row, 1978, pp. 213–229.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Craven, J., et al., “Hospice Care for Dying Patients,”Amer. J. Nursing, 75, Oct. 1975, pp. pp. 1816–822.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dunphy, J. E., “Rising Above Suffering and Death,”Bull. Amer. College Surgeons., 1979,64, 4, 10–11.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Editorial, “The Hospice: An Alternative,”J. Amer. Medical Assoc., 1976,236, 18, 2047.

  9. Editorial, “Secretary Califano Pledges Support for Hospice Movement,”Aging, 1978, 20–21.

  10. Editorial, “Treating Patients in their Homes—Often Cheaper, Often Better,”U. S. News and World Report, 1976, p. 73.

  11. Erikson, E., “Insight and Responsibility. New York, W. W. Norton & Company, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Feifel, H.,The Meaning of Death. New York, McGraw-Hill, Blakiston Div.

  13. —New Meanings of Death. New York, McGraw-Hill, Blakiston Div., 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fletcher, John C., “Ethics and the Costs of Dying.” In Milunsky, A., and Annas, G. J., eds.,Genetics and the Law, 2. New York, Plenum Press, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Garret, D. N., The Needs of the Seriously Ill Patients and their Families: The Haven Concept,”Aging, 1978, 12–19.

  16. Gurewitsch, E., “Calvary Hospital: The Newest Building, the Oldest Organization for the Terminally Ill,”Aging, 1978, 32–37.

  17. Guthrie, D., “Dr. Kúbler-Ross: A Positive Acceptance of Death,”Bull. Amer. College Surgeon, 1979,64, 4, 12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hinton, J.,Dying, Baltimore, Penguin, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Holden, C., “Pain, Dying and the Health Care System,”Science, 1979,203, 984–985.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kass, L. R., “Regarding the Use of Medicine and the Pursuit of Health,”The Public Interest, 1975,40, 11–42.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kaufman, W., “Existentialism and Death.” In Feifel, H., ed.,The Meaning of Death. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1959, pp. 39–63.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Koestenbaum, P.,The Vitality of Death: Essays in Existential Psychology and Philosophy. Westport, Connecticut, Greenwood Publishing Co., 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Laney, J. T., “Ethics and Death.” In Mills, L. O., ed.,Perspectives on Death. Nashville, Tennessee, Abingdon Press, 1969, pp. 231–252.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Nighswonger, C. A., “Ministry to the Dying as a Learning Encounter,”J. Thanatology, 1971,1, 2, 101–108.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rahner, K., “Christianity and the New Man,”Theological Investigations. Baltimore, Helicon Press, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Shimkin, M. B., “Implementation of the Hospice Concept.” InScience and Cancer. U. S. National Institutes of Health, 1973, pp. 15–568.

  27. Thielicke, H.,Death and Life. Philadelphia, Fortress Press, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Veatch, R. M.,Death, Dying and the Biological Revolution. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wentzel, K. B., “The Dying Are the Living,”Amer. J. Nursing, 1976,76, 6, 956–957.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. National Institutes of Health, USA

    Vincent W. Franco B. S., M. A. (Science Writer-Editor)

  2. Georgetown University Graduate School, Georgetown, USA

    Vincent W. Franco B. S., M. A. (Science Writer-Editor)

Authors
  1. Vincent W. Franco B. S., M. A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Franco, V.W. The hospice: Humane care for the dying. J Relig Health 22, 241–251 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02280630

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02280630

Keywords

Search

Navigation