The hospice philosophy accepts death as the final stage of life: it affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice care meets not only physical needs, but also psychological, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual needs of each person and family. Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease, working to manage symptoms so that a person’s last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice care is family-centered – it includes the patient and the family in making decisions. A ‘family’ is whoever the person says his or her family is.