[Practice and problem in hospice and home palliative care].

In Yamaguchi Red Cross Hospital, hospice services are provided under coordination of palliative care for outpatients and for inpatients and home palliative care. The Home Nursing Center plays the central roles in home palliative care and needs to exclusively provide home medical services. We served for 25% of the patients who died of terminal cancer in the palliative care unit or at home in Yamaguchi City. In the future hospice and palliative home care services, the system to allow patients to choose in-hospital care/outpatient care/home palliative care should be established. Home palliative care should be disseminated under the coordination of local municipalities, medical institutions and welfare service organizations so that patients and families can live meaningful lives at their home where they long lived as the place they chose to live.