Hospice care, when talking about death helps to live with intention.

Most of us move through life believing death is something that happens to everyone else. Not us. Not yet. And if the moment ever comes, we will manage it somehow, staying strong and avoiding suffering at all costs.  How comfortable are we, really, talking about end-of-life care before we are forced to?

Then reality arrives, often suddenly.

Death touches us directly or reaches someone we love, and we are forced to face decisions we never wanted to make. We have to talk about what feels uncomfortable. We start thinking about the conversations we delayed and the plans we postponed, trusting there would always be a tomorrow.

 This is where hospice care becomes deeply human. 

At Medcare Hospice, our teams walk alongside patients and families during one of life’s most vulnerable seasons. And when you speak with Geriolsys “Gio” Palenzuela, Patient Care Manager, you quickly understand why hospice work requires more than clinical skill.

Gio began working in hospice in 2017 after graduating from university in Puerto Rico. When asked why he chose this specialty, his answer is simple and honest:

“It’s a job that requires compassion. People who truly care about helping patients and their families navigate this stage of life.”

For Gio, this work has been one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. It has allowed him to guide families through what to expect medically while also providing emotional support when it is needed most. He has even been able to use that same knowledge and compassion to support friends and loved ones outside of work.

Hospice and palliative care are often misunderstood, but the goal is clear: comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

The World Health Organization describes palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness. It focuses on preventing and relieving suffering through early identification, proper assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial, or spiritual concerns.

If you have never had palliative care explained to you, you are not alone.

Many families do not know which diagnoses qualify, how to access services, or what care looks like for a patient who is increasingly limited or bedridden. These are important questions, and they deserve clear, compassionate answers.

Talking about death does not bring it closer.

But talking about it can help families prepare, reduce fear, and make decisions aligned with the patient’s values. Stories like Gio’s remind us that even in difficult moments, there is always room for compassion, dignity, and human-centered care.

At Medcare Hospice, we are here to help patients live as comfortably and meaningfully as possible, every step of the way.