Hospice Care
What Is Hospice Care?
When a loved one is living with a terminal illness, the focus often shifts from curing to caring—finding comfort, dignity, and peace each day. Hospice care is designed for just that. It provides specialized support for individuals in the final stages of life, whether that means a few weeks, several months, or longer.
Hospice is not about giving up. It’s about prioritizing quality of life, making time for meaningful moments, and ensuring your loved one is surrounded by support, compassion, and comfort. Services can be provided at home, in a care facility, or a hospice center—wherever your loved one feels most at peace.
Why Families Choose Hospice Care
Hospice care is not just for the person who is ill it’s also for the family. It offers guidance, emotional support, and relief during one of life’s most difficult journeys. When treatments are no longer effective or desired, hospice brings comfort, control, and clarity to a time that can feel overwhelming.
Many families say they wish they had started hospice sooner. In fact:
- Studies show that hospice improves both patient comfort and family satisfaction with care.
- According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), roughly 1.7 million people in the U.S. received hospice care in 2020.
- Most people receiving hospice—over 71%—received care in their own homes.
The average length of stay in hospice is about 77 days, though many families wait too long to explore this option
Key Features of Hospice Care
Comfort-Focused Medical Care
Pain and symptom management tailored to the person’s condition, with dignity and respect at the core.
Emotional and Spiritual Support
Access to counseling, spiritual care, and companionship—for both patients and family members.
Flexible, Personalized Setting
Hospice can take place wherever your loved one feels most at ease: at home, in a care facility, or in a hospice center.
Caregiver Relief and Respite
Hospice provides support for family caregivers, including temporary respite care so you can rest, regroup, and care for yourself.
Grief Support for Families
Bereavement services are available before and after loss, offering continued care for those left behind.
Cost of Hospice Care
Hospice care is often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, but it’s important to understand what that coverage includes. Typically, insurance will pay for medical services related to comfort care—such as nurse visits, medications for symptom management, and necessary medical equipment.
However, room and board, as well as personal caregiving services, are usually not covered and are paid out of pocket by families. This means that if your loved one is receiving hospice care in a facility, the cost for their stay—along with non-medical daily care—can become a significant expense.
What matters most is ensuring your loved one receives compassionate, high-quality care—and that your family has the information and support to make the right decision with clarity and confidence.
Benefits of Hospice Care
- Improves comfort, dignity, and emotional well-being
- Reduces unnecessary hospital visits and interventions
- Strengthens family support through counseling and education
- Brings peace of mind knowing your loved one’s care is guided by compassion and expertise