Abstract
The first objective of this study is to make clear the present condition of hospice care facilities in Japan. The second objective is to explore the possibility of organization of hospice care wards in the central acute general hospitals. The third objective is to make clear the actual conditions of the dying patients and particular characteristics of the hospice care. The results of the analysis are presented as follows ; 1) Most of the hospices in Japan are included in the hospitals. 2) The hospice care wards will be able to be set up in prefectural general hospitals. 3) In case of practicing the hospice care, it is important to increase the number of private rooms in general wards, and to keep some rooms ready for use as living rooms for patients and their families.
