Each year a number of us are diagnosed with an incurable disease or condition.
This does not mean that healthcare stops. Palliative care is specialist care for people who are dying.
Hospice services are the organisations which care for the terminally ill and their families.
Because they have been established by communities in direct response to need, a range of service elements may be provided.
Some communities have a comprehensive service including inpatient beds, at-home nursing, bereavement counselling; others have elements of service like equipment loan and some communities still have no identifiable service.
Community volunteers are active in enhancing the care through their enthusiasm, friendliness and warmth.