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In 1988 Catholic Hospice received its certificate of need and began the mission driven work of serving the community with compassionate end-of-life care. Thirty years later the mission continues with a passion to provide service to our community.

The concept of hospice care can be found in medieval times when hospice was a place for travelers, pilgrims and the sick, wounded or dying to find rest and comfort. Modern hospice care is defined as a concept of care that provides physical, emotional and spiritual comfort to those facing challenges at end of life.
 
Catholic Hospice supports the unique needs and dreams of each person, by doing so, we are able to continue our ongoing mission within the South Florida community. Many people put off their wishes and dreams to the future. But for those diagnosed with a terminal illness their future is now. Dreams and wishes are hidden deep beneath the pain and suffering of day to day life. Living with a terminal illness often drains financial and emotional resources causing more strain on families as they struggle with the daily battle of their illness. Dreams of a dinner at a favorite restaurant or a few hours at a beach feeling the warmth of the sun seems unattainable for many with a terminal illness. One of our ongoing goals is to support the dreams and work to make them a reality.
 
Another service that is part of hospice is bereavement. Providing support to those who are impacted by end of life is also the mission of Catholic Hospice. Another area of concern is Helping Children in distress which is the mission of Camp Erin. Did you know that the U.S. Census estimates 1 in 20 children will experience the death of a parent by the time they graduate from high school, and that 1.5 million children under the age of 18 have lost an immediate family member? Research indicates these children are at a much greater risk for depression, suicide, poverty and substance abuse. Supporting the grieving process for children who have had a significant loss in their lives, Camp Erin provides multiple free weekend camps to help meet the needs of our community.
 
Hospice is not a job but a calling. Those who serve in the mission do so because of their love to meet the needs of a community in need. When the fear, pain and anxiety of a person in distress at end-of-life can be resolved and replaced with fulfilling a last need or wish then we have succeeded in our call to serve the hospice mission.