More than half of all American adults experience tremendous pain and suffering in their last months of life, young and old alike. And, although the majority of people express their desire to die in the familiar comforts of their own home, an overwhelming number of them will die in the hospital. This brings about a ripple of effects that extend beyond the dying individual to their family, their caregivers, and their communities, ultimately resulting in significant loss of dignity. It consumes our humanity and our healthcare resources, all at enormous emotional and financial cost.
