What Is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is end-of-life care. Medical professionals and volunteers give medical, psychological, and spiritual support. Read more.

*Health information sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. co-pay.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.

Hospice care is end-of-life care. A team of health care professionals and volunteers provides it. They give medical, psychological, and spiritual support. The goal of the care is to help people who are dying have peace, comfort, and dignity. The caregivers try to control pain and other symptoms so a person can remain as alert and comfortable as possible. Hospice programs also provide services to support a patient's family.

Usually, a hospice patient is expected to live 6 months or less. Hospice care can take place:

  • At home
  • At a hospice center
  • In a hospital
  • In a skilled nursing facility

NIH: National Cancer Institute

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