The hospice philosophy holds that end-of-life care should emphasize quality of life.
A nationwide Gallup survey conducted for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization produced five key outcomes: 

1. Nine out of 10 adults would prefer to be cared for at home rather than in a hos-pital or nursing home if diagnosed with a terminal illness. 96% of hospice care is provided in the patient’s home or a place they call home. 
2. When asked to name their greatest fear associated with death, respondents cited “being a burden to family and friends,” followed by “pain” and “lack of control.” Addressing the whole range of physical and psychological needs of the patient and his or her family in an interdisciplinary way is what makes hospice care so special. 
3. The vast majority of adults said that if they were terminally ill, they would be interested in the comprehensive program of care at home that hospice programs provide. Yet most Americans know little or nothing about their eligibility for or the availability of hospice care. 
4. 90% of adults believe it is the family’s responsibility to care for the dying. Hos-pice provides families with the support needed to keep their loved one at home, and can take over fully to give the care-giver short “respite” periods. 
5. Most adults believe it would take a year or more to adjust to the death of a loved one. Hospice programs offer one year of grief counseling for surviving family and friends.