Hospice General Purpose of the Department: As we have learned, the hospice idea is not new. Literally meaning "given to hospitality," hospices provided comfort, kindness, and nourishment to people in need hundreds of years ago. Today, hospices offer comfort to people as they near the end of life's journey. Hospice is a special way of caring for people with terminal illnesses and their families. It is a multidisciplinary health care program that is responsible for palliative and supportive care with consideration of the patient's and families wishes. Hospice focuses on care, not cure. Hospice care is important because it provides many benefits that ar