This paper examines the evolution of hospice care as a reflection of societal attitudes toward both aging and death. The modern hospice concept is viewed as it interacts with nursing education's philosophy of the person as both a holistic individual and a member of a complex system of family, friends, society, and culture. This philosophical change, as well as an increasing population of elderly persons with chronic diseases, led to the need for a new approach to care of the terminally ill. The modern hospice is actually a refinement of ancient practice. By understanding the evolution and growth of modern hospice, nurses can increase their ability to influence its future development.