support and assistance for people at home. The exact type of service available from place to place is apt to vary. Not all communities will offer the same services, and what is available may not be widely publicized. Patients and families may have to ask about which services are available in their community.
    The health care professionals and volunteer visitors involved in this work are trained in helping the person who is dying feel supported and cared for. However, not everyone has the same comfort level in talking about death and dying. Patients and families who want palliative care may have to request it or turn to other health care professionals than those they have known to find the support they need.
    There is sometimes a feeling that a palliative care unit is a "place to go to die." What is important to know is that the focus in such a unit is on living until death. The emphasis is on achieving comfort (freedom from pain) and maintaining as much activity as possible. Often the regulations and atmosphere in a palliative care unit are more relaxed than in a typical hospital setting. In many instances arrangements can be made for family gatherings or visits with pets. A palliative care unit can become "a home away from home."