Final answer:
Care that treats but does not cure is referred to as palliative care, designed to offer comfort to individuals with serious illnesses. Hospice is a form of palliative care for terminally ill patients, focused on improving quality of life and providing comfort rather than seeking a cure or delaying death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Care that treats but does not cure is known as palliative care. Its primary objective is to provide comfort and support to individuals with serious illness, where the focus is on relieving symptoms and stress, rather than attempting to cure the disease. In contrast, hospice is a type of palliative care specifically tailored for those who are terminally ill. When cure-oriented treatments are no longer viable, hospice care can offer a dignified and comfortable approach towards the end of life. This often includes managing pain and other distressing symptoms, and can also involve psychological, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families. The aim of hospice is not to hasten or postpone death, but to improve the quality of life for the time remaining.
Regarding the question asked ("Care that treats but does not cure"), the correct answer is c. palliative care. Additionally, it is important to understand the option of dying at home, which reflects personal preferences and cultural views about death. Increasingly, hospice services are supporting the option of at-home care, allowing patients to spend their last days in a familiar setting surrounded by loved ones, which research suggests is a preference for many people.