Hospice care
Definition
Hospice care helps people with illnesses that cannot be cured and who are nearing death. The goal is to give comfort and peace instead of a cure. Hospice care provides:
- Support for the patient and the family
- Relief to the patient from pain and symptoms
- Help for family members and loved ones who want to stay close to the dying patient
Most hospice patients are in their last 6 months of life.
Alternative Names
Palliative care - hospice; End-of-life care - hospice; Dying - hospice; Cancer - hospice
Making the Decision to Start Hospice
When you choose hospice care, you have decided that you no longer want care to try to cure your terminal illness. This means no longer receiving treatment that is intended to cure any of your chronic health problems. Common illnesses for which this decision is made include cancer, and severe heart, lung, kidney, liver, or neurologic illnesses. Instead, any treatment provided is intended to keep you comfortable.
Your health care providers cannot make the decision for you, but they can answer questions and help you make your decision such as:
- What is the chance of curing your illness?
- If you cannot be cured, how much time would any active treatment provide you?
- What would your life be like during this time?
- Can you change your mind after you have started hospice?
- What will the dying process be like for you? Can you be kept comfortable?
Starting hospice care changes the way you will be receiving care, and it may change who will be providing the care.
What Hospice Care Offers
Hospice care is given by a team. This team may include doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, aides, clergy, and therapists. The team works together to give the patient and family comfort and support.
Someone from your hospice care team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide any support or help you, your loved ones, or your family needs.
Hospice care treats the mind, body, and spirit. Services may include:
- Control of pain.
- Treatment of symptoms (such as shortness of breath, constipation, or anxiety). This includes medicines, oxygen, or other supplies that help you manage your symptoms.
- Spiritual care that meets your needs and those of your loved ones.
- Giving the family a break (called respite care).
- Doctor services.
- Nursing care.
- Home health aide and homemaker services.
- Counseling.
- Medical equipment and supplies.
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy, if needed.
- Grief counseling and support for the family.
- Inpatient care for medical problems, such as pneumonia.
The hospice team is trained to help the patient and family with the following:
- Know what to expect
- How to deal with loneliness and fear
- Share feelings
- How to cope after death (bereavement care)
Where Does Hospice Care Take Place
Hospice care most often takes place in the patient's home or the home of a family member or friend.
It also may be given in other locations, including:
- A nursing home
- A hospital
- In a hospice center
The person in charge of care is called the primary care giver. This may be a spouse, life partner, family member, or friend. In some settings the hospice team will teach the primary care giver how to care for the patient. Caring could include turning the patient in bed, and feeding, bathing, and giving the patient medicine. The primary care giver will also be taught about signs to look for, so they know when to call the hospice team for help or advice.
References
Arnold RM. Palliative care. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 3.
Medicare.gov website. Medicare hospice benefits. www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/02154-Medicare-Hospice-Benefits.PDF. Updated November 2020. Accessed January 17, 2022.
Nabati L, Abrahm JL. Caring for Patients at the End of Life. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 51.
Rakel RE, Trinh TH. Care of the dying patient. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 5.
Review Date:1/18/2022
Reviewed By:David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.
Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.
