Free guide
Hospice basics for families
Talking about hospice can feel like giving up. Many families find it brings more support, not less.
Short answer
Hospice is comfort-focused care for someone with a serious illness who is no longer seeking treatment to cure it, and it is usually provided wherever the person lives. Medicare covers hospice for people who qualify, and choosing hospice can be changed later if your loved one decides to seek curative treatment again.
What hospice is
Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life. A team that may include a nurse, aide, social worker, and chaplain supports both the person and the family. Care usually happens at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing home.
Hospice and palliative care
Palliative care eases symptoms at any stage of a serious illness, and it can be given alongside treatment. Hospice is a type of palliative care for the end of life, when curative treatment has stopped.
What Medicare covers
Medicare.gov explains who qualifies and what is covered, such as the hospice team, equipment, and medicines for comfort. Room and board in a facility is generally not covered. Other plans and Medicaid have their own rules.
Questions to ask a hospice provider
- How quickly can care start?
- How often will the nurse and aide visit?
- Who do we call at night or on weekends, and how fast do you respond?
- What equipment and supplies do you provide?
- What support do you offer the family, including after a death?
Talking about it
Ask the doctor directly whether hospice could help now. Let your loved one share their wishes, and write them down in an advance directive if they have not already.
Common questions
When should we ask about hospice?
When a serious illness is getting worse and treatment is no longer helping or wanted. Ask the doctor whether hospice could help now.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up?
No. Hospice shifts the focus to comfort and support. Your loved one can stop hospice and return to curative treatment if they choose.
Does Medicare pay for hospice?
Medicare covers hospice for people who qualify. Room and board in a facility is generally not covered. Medicare.gov has the details.
Rules vary by state. Check with your state agency or a licensed professional where your loved one lives.
Want this organized for your family? The Care Options Plan and Monthly Guidance turns it into a personalized checklist with reminders. See plans.
Official resources and further reading
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care
- National Institute on Aging: What are palliative care and hospice care?
- National Institute on Aging: Advance care planning and advance directives
Links go to public resources. Kinhaven is not affiliated with them.