For patients with incurable illnesses, VOA offers palliative care to maximize every patient’s quality of life through pain control, breathing and overall comfort. Hospice care is an important part of palliative care and is carefully coordinated by a patient’s physicians and nurses, medical directors, hospice nurses, social workers, clergy and volunteers. The focus of hospice is maintaining the comfort and quality of life for patients up to the time of death, and providing support for the family during and after a patient’s illness.