Final answer:
A hospice is a healthcare facility providing end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, focusing on comfort rather than curing illness. It supports both the patient and their family through specialized medical, emotional, and supportive care services.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of medical facility described is a hospice, a place designed to provide compassionate care focusing on the comfort and dignity of patients with terminal illnesses. Hospice care includes the services of specially trained healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and therapists, who help manage pain and symptoms so individuals can live as comfortably as possible at the end of life. A key aspect of hospice care is the support provided not just to the patient but to their family members, offering emotional support and reducing the burden of care. Hospices play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges facing the elderly, especially in offering a more dignified and humane alternative to the inadequate care in 'almshouses' from the past.