Although the exact meaning of hospice has evolved over time, the philosophy behind it remains to lessen or decrease spiritual, psychological, physical symptoms. Hospices for senior care used to be a places where the sick and dying were cared for and offered help for religious and other travelers.
Today hospice senior care is palliative care, specifically for the terminally ill, in such institutions as nursing homes, retirement homes, hospitals or even in a patient’s own home. Basic ideas of hospice care began to gain popularity in the 17th century. Today’s hospice care services were starting to be offered in the 1950′s.
The work of Cicely Saunders has helped spread the idea about the importance of patient senior care for the terminally ill, first nationally then internationally.