Residential hospice

A residential hospice provides full-time palliative care, generally in a home-like setting. Some hospices will also take care of the person who is ill for a few days at a time so that caregivers can get some rest. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough residential hospices to meet the needs of everyone who needs palliative care in Canada.

Residential hospices often give priority to people who are nearing the last stages of life and are not expected to live more than a few months. Hospice staff will pay close attention to physical symptoms. Symptoms such as nausea and constipation need to be treated so that the patient can be as comfortable as possible. Staff will also care for the patient’s emotional and spiritual health. Patients may need to confirm that their expectations for medical treatment match services that can be provided in the hospice.