Hospice is a "Philosophy of Caring" for dying patients and their families. It recognizes that death is part of the human life cycle and that every person has the right to die with dignity, peace, and comfort. Hospice neither postpones nor hastens death, it exists so that patients and their families might be free to attain a measure of mental and spiritual readiness for death that is satisfactory to them. Bereavement follow-up is also part of the hospice program.