Hospice care arms to improve the lives of people with incurable illnesses.

Hospices offers care for people who have their illness diagnosed as terminal. This is often called end of life care.

That does not mean hospice care needs to be continuous. People can take a break from hospice care if they are feeling well.

Hospice care values the dignity, respect and the wishes of their patients. They aim to look after all aspects of need, such as:

• Medical

• Emotional

• Social

• Practical

• Psychological

• Spiritual

• Also the needs of the person's family and carers.

This is often referred to as "holistic care".

Care also extends to those who are close to the patient. Including, the bereavement period after the patient has died.

As hospice care is a style of care. This means the care doesn't take place in a specific building. The care offered can be at:

• Your own home

• In a care home

• In-patient at the hospice itself

• Or, as a day patient visiting hospice

Hospice teams include doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, counsellors and trained volunteers.

Hospices aim to feel more like a home than hospitals do. They can offer personal end-of-life care in a gentler and calmer place than a hospital.

Some people think that hospice care is for when you are dying. This is not true.

A hospice palliative care team might help control symptoms. Such as pain or breathlessness early on in your illness. Staying at the hospice for a few days before returning home. Or, you might go into hospice care giving your family or carers a break. This is what we call respite care.

Some people have a number of periods of hospice care. It all depends on their health problem and their wishes.

Hospice care is free. Paid for through NHS funding and public donations. You can contact a hospice directly yourself. Usually the team will ask for a referral from your doctor or nurse. There is a limit to the amount of places available. You can contact your local hospice to see what is available.