Hospice Care

What is Hospice?

Hospice is a specialized type of care for people living with a serious, life-limiting illness. Rather than focusing on curing the illness, hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, quality of life, and support for both the patient and their family.

Hospice care may include nursing visits, pain and symptom management, medications and equipment related to the terminal illness, personal care assistance, social work, spiritual support, caregiver education, and 24/7 on-call help.

Care can often be provided wherever the patient calls home, including a private residence, assisted living community, nursing facility, or memory care setting.

Hospice Is About Living as Comfortably as Possible

Choosing hospice does not mean giving up. It means shifting the focus toward what matters most to the patient — being comfortable, spending meaningful time with loved ones, and receiving compassionate support throughout the journey.

Hospice also supports families by helping them understand what to expect, answering questions, offering emotional and spiritual guidance, and providing bereavement support after a loss.

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When is it time to Consider Hospice?

Hospice may be appropriate when a person is living with a serious or life-limiting illness and the focus of care is shifting from curing the illness to providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

Families may want to begin a conversation about hospice when they notice:

More frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits
A noticeable decline in strength, mobility, or ability to complete daily activities
Increasing pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, or other difficult symptoms
Significant weight loss or decreased appetite
Spending more time sleeping or resting
Recurrent infections or other complications
Treatments are no longer helping as expected or have become difficult to tolerate
Increasing need for help with bathing, dressing, eating, walking, or other daily activities
A physician indicates that the illness is progressing
The patient chooses to focus more on comfort and quality of life

What does Hospice include?

Nursing care
Symptom and pain management
Hospice-related medications
Medical equipment and supplies
Home health aide services
Social work
Spiritual support
Volunteer services
Family education
Bereavement support
24/7 on-call assistance

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You don't have to wait until the final days

One of the most common misconceptions about hospice is that it is only for the very end of life. Hospice can provide months of additional support when a person qualifies, allowing patients and families more time to benefit from nursing care, symptom management, medications and equipment related to the terminal diagnosis, emotional and spiritual support, caregiver education, and 24/7 access to assistance.

If you are wondering whether it may be time for hospice, that alone can be a good reason to start the conversation. A hospice evaluation can help determine eligibility, answer questions, and explain available options without obligating a family to begin services.

Benefits of Starting Hospice Earlier

Hospice can provide the greatest benefit when patients and families have enough time to take advantage of the full range of support available. Beginning hospice earlier may allow for:

Better symptom management for pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea, and other uncomfortable symptoms
More consistent support at home, which may help reduce stressful trips to the hospital or emergency room
Earlier access to medications, medical equipment, and supplies related to the terminal illness
More time to build trust with the hospice team, including nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and other caregivers
Greater support for family caregivers, including education about what to expect and how to provide comfort
Emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and loved ones
More time to focus on quality of life, meaningful moments, and personal goals
Additional preparation and peace of mind as the patient’s needs change

Hospice is not only for the final days of life. When someone is eligible, starting care sooner can give patients and families more time to feel supported, informed, and comfortable throughout the journey.

Hospice Wherever You Call Home

Hospice care can be provided in many different settings. The goal is to bring comfort, support, and expert care to the patient wherever they consider home.

Private Homes
For patients living at home, the hospice team visits regularly to provide nursing care, symptom management, personal care, emotional support, medications, equipment, and caregiver education. Family members and caregivers also receive guidance and 24/7 access to hospice support when questions or concerns arise.

Assisted Living Communities
Hospice works alongside the assisted living team to provide an added layer of support. Hospice nurses, aides, social workers, and other team members coordinate with facility staff to help manage symptoms, maintain comfort, and support both the resident and family.

Skilled Nursing & Long-Term Care Facilities
Hospice can be provided to residents in nursing facilities while the facility continues to provide day-to-day care. The hospice team works closely with nursing staff and physicians to focus on comfort, symptom management, emotional support, and the patient’s individual goals of care.

Memory Care Communities
For individuals living with dementia or other memory-related conditions, hospice care is tailored to their unique needs. The team focuses on comfort, dignity, managing symptoms, recognizing nonverbal signs of pain or distress, and supporting families throughout changes in the disease process.

Other Residential Care Settings
Hospice may also be available in other residential settings depending on the patient’s needs and circumstances. Wherever care is provided, the hospice team works collaboratively with caregivers and other healthcare professionals to create a coordinated plan centered around comfort and quality of life.

One Team, Wherever You Are

No matter where a patient lives, hospice brings together nurses, aides, social workers, spiritual care providers, volunteers, and other professionals to support the patient and family throughout the journey.