Hospice and Palliative Care

The term Hospice originates from the Latin words hospes (guest) and hospitium (hospitality, a place of welcome). According to Webster’s Dictionary, it means “shelter,” reflecting a philosophy of providing heartfelt, comfortable care in a peaceful environment.
Hospice and palliative care is a medical service designed for terminal cancer patients and their families, providing physical, social, psychological, and spiritual support to help them maintain quality of life and comfort in their remaining days.

Main Areas of Hospice and Palliative Care

The hospice and palliative care team — composed of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers — provides the following care services:

Physical Care

Manages painful symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, ascites, edema, and insomnia.

Psychological Care

Alleviates psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, and grief experienced by patients and families.

Social Care

Identifies financial and social difficulties and mobilizes available resources to provide support.

Spiritual Care

Helps ease suffering caused by existential issues such as the meaning of life and fear of death.

End-of-Life Care

Relieves physical and emotional distress during the final stage and supports families in preparing for death.

Bereavement Support

Assists families in coping with anxiety, grief, or depression after the patient’s passing.

Therapeutic Activities

Offers diverse therapy programs to help patients and families manage stress and anxiety, and to transform pain into positive emotional energy.

24-Hour Care Service Covered by Health Insurance

• Patients with cancer and their families can receive continuous 24-hour care services.
• Certified caregivers trained in palliative care provide daily living support (e.g., hygiene, meals, mobility) under nurse supervision, operating on a three-shift system.

History of Busan Hospice