during the patient's illness and during the bereavement process.
             We can see that the hospice concept is a biopsychosocial approach to the dying process, concerned with biological, psychological, and social health.
             By its proponents, hospice is considered a more humane and sensible approach to terminal illness, combining care, comfort, and support of family and friends as the individual faces death. Their concern for dignity and for maintaining quality of life rather than mere quantity lead to the following practical principles as an appropriate approach to care for the dying and their families. The patient must be as symptom-free as possible in order to enjoy the remaining portion of life as fully as possible. Physicians, nurses and other health care employees must be easily accessible to the patient and family. The same health care team should provide care for the patient, whether at home or in the hospital. The patient's and family's life style must be preserved, and their life philosophies respected by the health care practitioners. Loneliness, isolation and fears of abandonment are to be expected and should be dealt with accordingly. No one person can fully meet the needs of the dying patient; instead, a multidisciplinary team must be available to deal with any needs the patient or family may have. The patient should be treated as a person, not a disease. The family must receive adequate support to help in coping with the impending loss of a loved one. The terminally ill patient must be allowed to give as well as receive. The self-respect, identity and freedom of the dying patient should be built up. The family must feel a sense of participation in care giving and decision-making. The primary care person attending to a patient at home needs support and occasional relief help.
             Several issues pertaining to hospice care that are worthy of discussion are individuality, quality of life, palliative car...