Which end-of-life service is provided shortly before death and focuses on comfort and quality of life?

• A. Hospice care
• B. Rehabilitation therapy
• C. Chronic disease management
• D. Primary care

Answer: (A)

Hospice care centers on comfort and quality of life at the end of life. It is provided when curative treatment is no longer pursued or is unlikely to help, and life expectancy is limited. The goal is to relieve suffering and manage symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and confusion, while supporting the patient’s emotional, spiritual, and social needs. An interdisciplinary team—nurses, doctors, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers—works with the patient and family, often delivering care at home or in a hospice facility. Importantly, hospice also offers bereavement support to families after death.

Rehabilitation therapy, in contrast, aims to restore function after illness or injury, not to provide comfort-oriented end-of-life care. Chronic disease management focuses on controlling ongoing conditions to prevent complications, not specifically on end-of-life quality. Primary care provides general health maintenance and prevention rather than specialized end-of-life comfort and support.