The hospice care that people expect — and sign up for — sometimes disappears when they need it most.

I met Brenda when she decided to seek hospice care. In addition to kidney failure, she had numerous ailments including painful, golf-ball-sized sores throughout her body.

Letting go can be hard at any age. Most people don't want the end to come a minute earlier than it must. Also, family members are often reluctant to relinquish a loved one, even when there is suffering and no reasonable hope for recovery.

Palliative care, while a specialty, lies at the heart of what every health care provider does -- whether nurse, physician, social worker, chaplain or psychologist -- because no matter the dazzle of technologies that extends life, our core focus can and should remain: Cure sometimes, relieve often, comfort always.