hospice

[hos-pis]

noun

1. a house of shelter or rest for pilgrims, strangers, etc., especially one kept by a religious order.

2. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a healthcare facility for the terminally ill that emphasizes pain control and emotional support for the patient and family, typically refraining from taking extraordinary measures to prolong life.

   2. a similar program of care and support for the terminally ill at home or in a nursing home.

hospice

/ ˈhɒspɪs /

noun

1. a nursing home that specializes in caring for the terminally ill

2. Also called: hospitium. archaic,  a place of shelter for travellers, esp one kept by a monastic order

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospice¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from French, from Latin hospitium “hospitable reception, entertainment”; hospitium

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospice¹

C19: from French, from Latin hospitium hospitality, from hospes guest, _host ¹

Example Sentences

I thought I’d do that when she came home for hospice, but those first few days home were hectic as we set everything up.

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A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government had already invested £100 million to improve hospice facilities and had committed £80 million for children's and young people's hospices over three years.

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The Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee for the 1987 movie ‘Anna’ had gone into hospice care over the weekend.

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Over the past decade, she has been an embalmer, funeral director, hospice worker, and end-of-life therapist.

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Service user Len Lawson-Domaille, who has been attending the sessions for about four weeks, said the nurses at the hospice were "absolutely wonderful people".

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Related Words

• clinic 
• emergency room 
• health service www.thesaurus.com
• infirmary 
• nursing home 
• sanitarium 
• shelter 
• ward