What Is Hospice Care?

Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a place. It can happen in a patient's home, a nursing facility, or an inpatient hospice unit, wherever the patient is most comfortable.

Hospice care is for people with a terminal illness who have chosen to focus on quality of life rather than curative treatment. It addresses physical symptoms like pain and shortness of breath, but also emotional, spiritual, and practical needs, for both the patient and the family.

Medicare covers hospice 100% for eligible patients, meaning no out-of-pocket costs for most families. A physician certifies that the patient has six months or less to live if the illness runs its natural course, and the patient elects to receive comfort-focused care rather than aggressive treatment.

What hospice is not

Hospice is not giving up. It is not choosing death. It is not the absence of hope. Many families tell us that enrolling in hospice was one of the best decisions they made, that it gave their loved one more peace, more comfort, and more quality time than continuing aggressive treatment would have.

Research consistently shows that hospice patients often live as long, and sometimes longer, than patients who continue curative treatment, while experiencing significantly better quality of life.

Who is hospice for?

Hospice is appropriate for people with any terminal diagnosis who have a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. Common diagnoses include cancer, congestive heart failure, COPD, dementia, renal failure, liver disease, ALS, and stroke, but hospice is available for any life-limiting illness.