Which term describes a care approach focused on comfort for people nearing the end of life?

• A. Hospice
• B. Empathy
• C. Ethics
• D. Living Will

Answer: (A)

Hospice care centers on comfort and quality of life for someone nearing the end of life. It focuses on relieving pain and other distressing symptoms, while also addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs for both the patient and family. Care is typically coordinated by an interdisciplinary team and can be provided at home or in a hospice facility, with goals set by the patient’s wishes to emphasize comfort over curative treatment.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings, which is important in care but not a specific end-of-life care approach. Ethics refers to moral principles guiding decisions, not a dedicated care model. A living will is a legal document outlining preferences for future treatment, but it doesn’t describe ongoing end-of-life care itself; it guides decisions rather than delivering care.