The Solace (and Sense) of Hospice and Palliative Care

Beginning of article

When I visit my older patients, conversation often turns to "the end": "When my time comes, I want hospice," they say. These individuals are not necessarily near death; in many cases they are patients with chronic illnesses whom I have long cared for as a geriatrician. Some have experienced hospice through the decline and death of a spouse. Others have suffered from debilitating health crises from which they have, thankfully, bounced back.

But they all have one thing in common: for every health condition, they know they need a "Plan B." They must consider what kind of care, curative or comfort, they want in any given situation, and they need to make informed decisions while their …