As healthcare moves from hospitals to patients’ homes, and given the reality of a rapidly increasing U.S. elderly population, continuity of care and end-of-life care has become of utmost importance. Health care professionals need to learn to care for patients outside the hospital setting. The apartment/hospice care unit addresses that need. Nursing and other allied health professions students experience realistic home care-based simulations that provide not only hands-on learning of end-of-life technical care provision, but also emphasize the therapeutic communication skills needed to support these patients and their caretakers. The hospice unit will allow students to experience the dying process in a safe learning environment and practice delivering the compassionate care needed to support patients and family members during this emotional time.
