-To care humanely for the terminally ill
-To provide not merely for the patient's medical requirements but also for the spiritual and emotional needs of both patient and loved ones
-To give to family and friends an opportunity to share actively in the care, comfort, and support of the dying individual
-To make the patient's final days as painless, as happy, and as meaningful as possible.
These are the goals of hospice, a concept developed in England during the late fifties and now rapidly gaining acceptance in this country as well.
Contributed by many of the leading figures in the hospice movement, the essays included here movingly express the needs of the dying, describe the responses available through a hospice approach, and outline in practical terms the various ways of developing hospices in local communities. Together, they form a comprehensive introduction and guide to a compassionate alternative method of caring for those who are about to die.