hospice

noun3

1. •
   The provision of palliative care for terminally ill patients, either at a specialized facility or at a residence, and support for the family, typically refraining from taking extraordinary measures to prolong life.

   • Thus, the introduction of hospice services marked a new beginning, not only for the care of the dying, but also for the practice of medicine as a whole. — 2007
2. •
   A specialized facility or organization offering palliative care for the terminally ill.

   • Medicare reimbursement of hospice care is likely to be affected by the apparent reluctance of hospices to participate in the Medicare program. — 2001
3. •
   (old-fashioned) A lodging for pilgrims or the destitute, normally provided by a monastic order.