End-of-life care (5)
- End of life: Caring for your dying loved one
- Hospice care: An option when confronting terminal illness
- Terminal illness: Interacting with a terminally ill loved one
- see all in End-of-life care
Grief (8)
- Grief: Coping with reminders after a loss
- Survivors of suicide: Healing after a loved one's suicide
- Infant death: Grief and the path to loving remembrance
- see all in Grief
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Hospice care: An option when confronting terminal illness
If you're considering hospice care for a loved one, find out what to expect and how to choose a hospice care service.
By Mayo Clinic staffYour loved one has a terminal illness, and the doctor says traditional therapy aimed at treating the disease isn't working. The doctor suggests you consider hospice care. Hospice care is, at least in some parts of the world, a relatively new concept. You may have heard things about hospice that confuse or frighten you. But take some time to find out more about hospice care and how the hospice approach might be the best option for your loved one.
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is for people who are nearing the end of their lives. Hospice care is designed to relieve or decrease pain, or other symptoms, and provide as much quality time as possible with family and friends. But unlike other medical care, the focus of hospice care is no longer on curing or treating the underlying disease. The goal of hospice care is to provide the highest quality of life for whatever time remains. Hospice professionals often say that their focus is on caring, not curing, and that they treat the individual, not the disease.
Who is hospice care for?
Many people receiving hospice care have cancer, but hospice is available for people with any terminal illness, such as heart disease, dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or any other condition. In general, hospice care is reserved for those who've been evaluated by a doctor and have six months or less to live. This is the guideline that Medicare — which pays for most hospice care — follows, and most private insurers have adopted Medicare's guideline as well.
When should hospice care be an option?
Hospice professionals stress that the longer someone is in hospice care, the better chance of a peaceful and high-quality experience. Waiting until the very end and then rushing into hospice at the last minute can be traumatic for you or your loved ones, and does not allow time for symptoms to be properly managed.
Where is hospice care provided?
With hospice care, instead of your loved one spending their last weeks or months in a hospital, they're with loved ones in your home or another homelike setting. Although most hospice care is provided at home, hospice is often available at nursing homes or assisted living residences. Some residential facilities designed specifically for hospice care also exist.
While most people using hospice care receive care at home, sometimes it's necessary to be admitted to a hospital. For instance, anytime a symptom can't be adequately managed by the hospice care team in the home setting, the person needing hospice care may need to be temporarily admitted to the hospital. Also, your loved one can be admitted to the hospital for up to five days in order to give you a rest from the stress of caregiving. This is called respite care. In addition, some people would prefer to die in the hospital rather than at home. In such cases, your loved one can be admitted to a hospital for the final days or hours of life.
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