The treatment of the hospice patient: from occupational history to occupational role.

The nature of hospice care, particularly from the point of view of the occupational therapist, is presented in respect to the treatment of a 26-year-old patient. This case study demonstrates the role of the occupational therapist in helping a patient deal with his feelings of isolation, in helping him cope with severe physical limitations to maintain a maximum level of independence, and in helping him to deal with relationships with his fiance, family, and friends. The reader is given a sense of the quality of communication between therapist and patient. Finally, a view of what the therapist can expect realistically when offering hospice care is considered.