Hospice is specialized care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people facing a life-limiting illness. Instead of trying to cure the disease, hospice supports the whole person—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—while also guiding families through the journey.

Hospice is for anyone with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its usual course. This includes people with cancer, heart or lung disease, dementia, kidney failure, and many other serious conditions. Hospice meets you where you are at and it is not only for the final days of life.

No. Hospice is not about giving up—it’s about changing the goal of care. Instead of focusing on cure, hospice focuses on comfort, relief from pain, and helping people live as fully as possible. Many patients actually live longer with hospice support than they would with repeated hospitalizations or aggressive treatments.

Hospice is a team effort. Care may include doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, counselors, volunteers, and therapists. Together, they create a plan that supports the patient and family in every aspect of the journey.

Hospice care comes to where you are: most often in the home, but also in nursing homes, assisted living communities, hospitals, or inpatient hospice centers. The goal is to keep people in the environment that feels safest and most comfortable.

In the United States, hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. This coverage typically includes medications, equipment, and supplies related to the terminal illness, as well as the full range of hospice services.

Yes. Hospice is not a contract. A patient can revoke hospice at any time if they want to pursue curative treatment again. If needed, they can also return to hospice later.

Not exactly. Palliative care is specialized medical support for people with serious illness at any stage, often alongside curative treatment. Hospice is palliative care provided when treatment is no longer working or wanted, and the focus shifts entirely to comfort and quality of life.

Many families wait too long. The right time is when curative treatments no longer help, or when the burden of those treatments outweighs the benefit. If a person is experiencing uncontrolled symptoms, frequent hospitalizations, or simply wants to focus on comfort, it may be time to consider hospice.