One of the founders of the hospice movement in America, Dr. Robert W. Buckingham notes that today's modern medical facilities come fully equipped with the technology and sophisticated procedures to prolong life, but often they are ill-prepared to comfort the dying and ease the grief of loved ones left behind. In his continuing efforts to advocate pain-relieving care and human concern for those who are reaching the end of life, Dr. Buckingham offers this poignant yet informative sourcebook on the basic components of hospice care. The Handbook of Hospice Care offers a firsthand look at the history and philosophy of hospice care. While palliative care and enriching the quality of life for those who suffer from terminal illnesses are uppermost to the hospice concept, practical issues must also be addressed: the cost-effectiveness of such care; the appropriate- ness of hospice for children and AIDS patients; how to locate appropriate care or, if need be, how to start a hospice in your community; and related topics. Hospice is a cooperative and compassionate approach that brings meaning, dignity, and autonomy to the dying process. This hand- book will help the terminally ill and their families navigate emotion- ally charged waters to decide if hospice is the safe harbor they seek.