What is hospice care?

Considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury, hospice care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes. read more

Hospice care is used when you can no longer be helped by curative treatment and are expected to live about 6 months or less if the illness runs its usual course. Hospice gives you supportive or palliative care, which is treatment to help relieve symptoms, but not cure the disease. read more

Hospice offers four levels of care, two of which happen at home. The four levels are: Routine Home Care. The most common level of hospice care, this includes nursing and home health aide services. Continuous Home Care. This is when a patient needs continuous nursing care during a time of crisis. General Inpatient Care. read more

How hospice works If you qualify for hospice care, you and your family will work with your hospice team to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. For more specific information on a hospice plan of care, call your national or state hospice organization. read more