Hospice care is specialized medical care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for individuals with serious or life-limiting illnesses. Rather than curing the illness, hospice emphasizes pain relief, symptom management, emotional support, and spiritual care.

Hospice care is available to patients who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and whose physician determines that life expectancy is typically six months or less if the illness follows its normal course. Patients can continue hospice care beyond six months if they remain eligible.

Hospice can be considered when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired, and the focus shifts to comfort and quality of life. Many families find that earlier hospice involvement provides better symptom control and support.

Hospice care can be provided wherever the patient calls home, including private homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and hospice inpatient units. The goal is to provide care in a familiar and comfortable environment.

Hospice care typically includes pain and symptom management, nursing care and physician oversight, medications related to the terminal diagnosis, medical equipment and supplies, emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support, support for family caregivers, and bereavement services for loved ones.

The hospice team is interdisciplinary and may include physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains or spiritual counselors, volunteers, and bereavement counselors. The team works together to support both the patient and family.

No. Choosing hospice does not mean giving up—it means choosing comfort, dignity, and support. Hospice focuses on living as fully and comfortably as possible, honoring each patient's goals and wishes.

Yes. Patients may continue to see their primary physician, who can work together with the hospice medical team to coordinate care.

In most cases, hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. Coverage typically includes hospice visits, medications related to the diagnosis, equipment, and supplies. Our team can help verify benefits and explain coverage details.

Yes. Hospice generally provides medications related to comfort and symptom management, as well as medical equipment such as hospital beds, oxygen, walkers, or wheelchairs when needed.

Yes. Hospice care is a choice. Patients may revoke hospice at any time if they decide to pursue curative treatment again or if their condition improves. Hospice services can also be restarted later if needed.

Visit frequency depends on the patient's needs and condition. Nurses and aides may visit multiple times per week, while other team members visit as needed. Hospice staff are also available 24/7 for urgent concerns.

Hospice provides education, emotional support, and respite for caregivers. After a patient passes, bereavement support and grief counseling are available for family members for up to 13 months.

While caregivers provide most day-to-day care, hospice staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone and for emergency visits when needed.

Getting started is simple: Speak with your physician or request a hospice evaluation. Our hospice team will assess eligibility and coordinate care, beginning services quickly—often within 24–48 hours. You may also contact us directly, and we can help guide you through the process.