HOSPICE VIEW | TRADITIONAL VIEW |
| Death - part of life cycle |
Cure at all costs, avoid death |
| People oriented & patient centered |
Technology oriented to save life |
| Emphasis on patient/family |
Emphasis on disease process |
| Emphasis on quality of life |
Emphasis on quantity of life |
| Dying patient seen as an opportunity - relieve pain, etc. |
Dying patient seen as defeat - medical failure |
| Dying patient surrounded with communication &support |
Dying patient frequently isolated |
| Dying presents an opportunity to participate with reality |
Dying frequently results in a conspiracy of silence |
| Symptomatic treatment used |
Curative therapies &life support used |
| Major emphasis on pain avoidance; addiction is not main concern |
Pain treated with limited amounts of meds - avoid addiction |
| Emphasis on dying at home when hospitalization not needed |
Emphasis on admitting the dying to acute care wards or nursing homes |
| Continuity of care |
Fragmentation of care |
| Individuality |
Depersonalization |
| Participation of patient and family in planning care |
Care is one way frequently with caregivers planning the care |
| Support of family at death with bereavement follow up program |
All contact with family ends almost always at death |