Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms.

As well as attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life.

Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering.

Home care is health care or supportive care provided by a professional caregiver in the individual home where the patient or client is living.

As opposed to, care provided in group accommodations like clinics or nursing homes.

Home care is also known as domiciliary care, social care or in-home care.

End-of-life doulas empower, educate and encourage people and their families to be involved in making decisions.

The word “doula” is Greek for servant or helper.

Like how a birth doula supports women during the labour process, a death doula supports a person during the dying process.

One who receives care is an individual with a medical condition or who requires support with activities of daily living and is in a relationship with a caregiver.

Such as a doctor, nurse, friend, or family member, who provides treatment, assistance, or comfort.

Palliative care is an interdisciplinary medical caregiving approach aimed at optimizing the quality of life and mitigating suffering among people with serious, complex, and often terminal illnesses.

This term is often used interchangeably with hospice, however, one can be palliative for years before the dying process begins.

A Power of Attorney or (PoA)  letter of attorney (also called Mandate in Quebec, Canada) is a written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter.

Late-stage care occurs at the end of life, which is the point when the medical focus switches to comfort in the time that is left. 

This stage can last weeks or take years.  It all depends on the person whose life is ending.  

Late-stage care is almost always for a dependent senior.