End-of-life care is a compassionate approach to care that focuses on comfort, dignity, quality of life, and support for individuals who are approaching the final stages of a serious illness. Rather than concentrating on curing disease, end-of-life care emphasizes symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, advance care planning, and helping patients and families make informed decisions that align with their goals and values. Hospice care is a specialized form of end-of-life care typically provided when a person is expected to have six months or less to live and is no longer pursuing curative treatment. Hospice services may be provided in the home, hospice facilities, hospitals, or long-term care settings and often include a team-based approach involving healthcare providers, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. As recognized in the North Dakota Statewide Cancer Plan, access to supportive and compassionate end-of-life care is an important part of the cancer survivorship continuum for both patients and their loved ones.
