Hospices can be said to be evolving through their own life cycle. This involves four stages with indicators within each stage that include motivation, leadership, and community involvement. Effective leadership in hospice requires that individuals assuming an administrative role also be aware that caution is needed at both the administrative and self-care levels in each stage. To remain viable, hospice programs must keep pace with and anticipate the “inevitable change” that will occur in the hospice life cycle.
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