Hospice Care
Hospice care gives people comfort and support in the last phases of a disease that cannot be cured and during end of life. It focuses on helping a person live as fully and comfortably as possible, with dignity. Knowing about what hospice care offers can help you decide if it’s right for you.
What is hospice care?
Hospice is a special kind of care that focuses on a person’s quality of life, comfort, and dignity as they near the end of life. The philosophy of hospice is that death is an important stage of life. Hospice care focuses on helping people live as fully and comfortably as possible, surrounded by their loved ones, for the time they have left.
This care is given by a team of healthcare professionals. They work together to manage symptoms, distress, and spiritual needs. You will have access to their support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Hospice is also family-centered. The hospice team helps the person with cancer and their loved ones to plan care and make decisions together. They also support loved ones by helping with medical care, planning, and decision-making.
How misunderstandings about hospice can delay care
Studies show that hospice often is not started as soon as it could be. This might be because of misunderstandings, beliefs, or ideas people have about hospice. Or families might not know about all of the care options. Some reasons hospice care can be delayed include:
Some doctors or other cancer care team members do not suggest hospice. This might be because they’re unsure if people meet the criteria for hospice or they are hesitant to bring up end-of-life care. Don’t be afraid to ask your cancer care team if you or a loved one would like to know more about hospice. You can also search for Medicare-certified hospices in your area or talk to family and friends who have used a hospice program in your area. It’s important for you to know all your options.
Some people with cancer do not want to stop treatment. They hope that it will work even if the care team says it’s not working. Or they may hope that there will be a new treatment option available for them soon.
People might think getting hospice means giving up or that they have failed. When the care team suggests hospice, they think that the risks of treatment outweigh the benefits for you. And it’s best to focus on managing symptoms and improving quality of life instead of treating the cancer.
Choosing to pursue hospice means that you can focus on doing the things you want to do and spend time with your family and friends. You can enjoy the time you have left instead of going to follow-up visits, cancer treatment, or other procedures. It also allows you to have more control and choose care that matches your values.
People may think that those in hospice die more quickly. Hospice treats the person and their symptoms, rather than treating the cancer or disease. It does not try to delay death, but the goal is not to make death happen more quickly. Some studies have shown that people enrolled in hospice live longer than those who don’t.
People might believe that once they enter hospice care they cannot leave it. Hospice can provide services that the cancer care team is not able to. However, you can leave hospice any time you want. You can even resume cancer treatment if you choose. If your condition gets better, your hospice care team may refer you back to your healthcare team or a palliative care team.
Am I eligible for hospice?
You are eligible for hospice care when cancer can no longer be controlled with treatment and you are expected to live 6 months or less. This care focuses on making your quality of life the best it can be during the last few months, weeks, or days of life. Care during this time is about making sure you are comfortable so you can spend time with people you love or do things you love. Hospice care also gives your family or loved ones extra support during this difficult time.
What is the criteria to be eligible for hospice?
A person is eligible for hospice if certain criteria are met. This includes if they are expected to live for 6 months or less if the disease takes its normal course.
Hospice teams will also look for signs that a person may be ready for hospice care, such as:
- Weight loss
- Symptoms that continue to get worse
- If the person needs more help with daily activities
In addition, there are disease-specific criteria that the hospice care team monitors for. By monitoring these, the care team knows whether hospice care is the best type of care for you.
If the health condition improves while in hospice
In some cases, a person may start hospice, but their condition improves and their needs change. If at any time a person is no longer eligible for hospice, they can be discharged to palliative care. Or they can return to the care of their cancer care team or primary care provider. They can receive hospice care when they are eligible again.
Home hospice vs. hospice care in a facility
Hospice care can be given in many settings. It can be given a person’s home or a hospice facility. It may also be given through hospice programs in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, or other healthcare settings. The setting where care you get care depends on your specific care needs.
Some people may need to change where they receive care depending on the level of care needed.
What services does hospice provide?
Hospice can provide many different services that include medical care, personal hygiene or care, spiritual care, help with care planning, respite for caregivers, and bereavement support for family and loved ones. Each of these is tailored to personal needs.
Each person with cancer will have different care needs that hospice can help with. Some people will need symptom management, such as for pain, shortness of breath, or nausea and vomiting. Others might need wound care. Hospice can also provide medication support, medical supplies, and equipment, like hospital beds, wheelchairs, and more. Your medical care plan will vary based on your needs.
To handle 24-hour care or crises, hospice programs have a nurse available to answer phone calls day and night. This person can also make home visits or send hospice team members that you may need between scheduled visits. Medicare-certified hospices must provide doctor, nursing, and pharmacy services 24 hours a day. Ask your hospice their policy on how they manage needs, such as medicine refills or symptom management needs, outside of regular business hours.
Each person might have different spiritual needs and religious beliefs. A hospice team will take the time to understand your needs. A spiritual care provider, such as a chaplain, will be part of the care team. A chaplain serves people of all faiths, and they serve people who have no defined faith.
Your hospice team will make sure you get the support you need. This might mean helping you:
- Think about what death means to you
- Say good-bye to loved ones
- Meet with a leader from your religion
- Have a certain religious ceremony or ritual
A hospice nurse or social worker can set up family meetings to keep people informed about how you are doing and what to expect. These meetings can:
- Give everyone a chance to share feelings
- Talk about your health and any changes needed to care
- Talk about death and the dying process
- Give support to caregivers, family members, and other loved ones to help lower their stress
Between meetings, the hospice staff may also give updates if there are changes.
Your hospice team will manage all your care. They will organize all health services and make sure that everyone who provides you with care talks with each other. This includes your cancer care team, hospice doctor, an inpatient facility, pharmacists, clergy, or funeral directors.
You and your caregivers should contact your hospice team if you’re having a problem. They have someone available any time of the day or night. Hospice care makes sure that you and your loved ones have support and can get help at any time.
For people getting hospice care at home, most of the day-to-day care is given by a primary caregiver. Being a caregiver can be tiring and stressful. Many caregivers need a break to rest and take care of themselves so they can continue to care for their loved one. Some hospices offer respite care. This allows caregivers and other loved ones to take a break from caregiving for a while.
Learn more in Levels of Hospice Care.
Bereavement is the time a person grieves after losing a loved one. The hospice team works with people who have lost a loved one to help them through the grieving process.
A trained volunteer, clergy member, or counselor can support caregivers, family members, and other loved ones. They may do this through visits, phone calls, and support groups. Your hospice team can refer family members, caregivers, and friends to other support if needed.
Bereavement services are often offered for about a year after the person with cancer dies.
What does hospice care not provide?
Tell the hospice team about the treatments you are currently getting and any medications you are taking. And tell the hospice provider if you would like to continue any of them.
Some hospices and insurance plans will not cover things like dialysis, intravenous feedings, blood transfusions, certain medicines, or therapies while under hospice care. Other hospices allow certain medical treatments to continue. However, this will likely depend on your insurance coverage. Find out how a hospice would handle your current treatments before you commit to their services.
Also find out what the hospice would do if you developed new health problems that are curable, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or pneumonia. You may be more comfortable if they’re able to treat these types of problems.
Because managing your symptoms is important, ask the hospice team if there is any symptom management that can’t be provided in the home and requires another care setting.
Even though hospice providers have someone available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it doesn’t mean that they will be with you all 24 hours of the day. Hospice team members will visit you for regular visits or after hours if you have a crisis and are available by phone for questions or concerns. But you will still need to have a primary caregiver or other loved ones to provide all other care.
What the hospice team does
The hospice team has many healthcare professionals to help manage your needs. The hospice team will often include:
- A hospice doctor or medical director who can work with your cancer or primary care doctor
- Hospice nurses
- Social workers
- Counselors or therapists
- Dietitians
- Aides
- Clergy, chaplain, or other spiritual leaders
- Trained volunteers
Staff who work in hospice are trained in special issues related to death and dying.
This team will meet every 1-2 weeks in an interdisciplinary team meeting (IDT) to discuss your care, make any changes to your care plan, and arrange any extra services you need.
What the primary caregiver does
Every person who gets hospice care must have a primary caregiver. This is often a family member or close friend. Your caregiver will work with you and the hospice team to develop a care plan based on your needs and preferences. The primary caregiver will help make decisions with you. Or they will make decisions for you if you’re unable to.
Caregiving in home hospice
Home hospice often requires someone to be home with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is usually the primary caregiver, but other people may help too. The hospice team will teach the caregivers to give most of the hands-on care. Your primary caregiver will also keep track of your symptoms and let the hospice team know if you need any refills on medicines or more supplies.
Finding someone who can be with you at all times might be a challenge. This is especially true if you live alone or if your partner or adult children have full-time jobs. Sometimes, creative scheduling and teamwork among friends and loved ones can help manage this. But other times, you may need to find additional help, use respite care, or consider placement in a care facility. Talk with the hospice care team about your options as not all hired help or caregivers can provide certain medical care.
Caregiving in other settings
For people getting hospice care in a setting other than at home, the primary caregiver is still part of your hospice care team. Your caregiver can:
- Attend team meetings
- Communicate about your needs
- Help make care decisions
The caregiver role may be different outside of the home, but it is equally important.
If you don’t have someone who can be your primary caregiver, talk with your hospice team about other options. Your care options may depend on your insurance and hospice agencies or programs in the area.
No matter the care setting hospice is provided, members of the hospice staff will visit regularly to check on you, your caregivers, and your loved ones. They will make sure any symptoms are under control and give any needed care or services.
Entering hospice care
Once you decide to request hospice care, a hospice team member visits you and your loved ones. The team member will evaluate you to see if you are eligible for hospice.
If you are eligible and accept their care, a care plan will be made with you and your caregiver’s input. The hospice team will arrange for any services needed. Hospice nursing visits are also planned to check on you regularly. This allows your care team to monitor you and make any updates to the plan. This can help to address care needs as they often change.
Handling emergencies while on hospice
You and your caregiver will be taught how to handle problems and emergencies. You will also be told how to contact your hospice team.
In an emergency, call hospice before calling 911 or going to the hospital. The hospice team will tell you or your caregiver or loved one what to do. They may also call 911, if needed.
If a person in hospice goes to the hospital or emergency room without first contacting the hospice care team, their hospice benefits might be put at risk. They may be asked to pay for the hospital visit or ambulance ride.
If you go to the hospital and want care that is outside of the hospice benefit, you can revoke or stop hospice care to get it. Once you have gotten this care, you can usually transition back to hospice if you want.
Who pays for hospice care?
Hospice is usually covered by government programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veterans’ Administration (VA). It is also covered by private insurances. Coverage can vary based on the services needed and the setting where care is provided. Check with your insurance plan or hospice team to confirm your coverage.
If you are not insured or your insurance doesn’t cover the full cost of hospice
Some hospice providers offer care at no cost or at a reduced rate based on your ability to pay. They can often do this because of donations, grants, or other sources. Nearly all hospices have financial staff who can answer any questions and help you get the care you need.
How to find hospice care providers
Finding the hospice program that best meets your needs can take some time. Most areas have more than one hospice option. Your healthcare team can help you find local hospice programs. But you, your caregiver, and loved ones will need to decide which one is best for you.
Start looking for hospice programs soon after you find out that your cancer can no longer be controlled. That way you will have time to think about your options and make the decision. Look for information about quality of care, services they offer, staff training and expertise, and insurances they accept.
Local and state resources
There are some local and state resources that might be able to help you find hospices in your area. Check with your local Agency on Aging or health department. You can also visit the American Cancer Society Cancer Support Resources, Programs, and Services to see if there are nearby programs. Or you can call us at 1-800-227-2345.
National resources
The National Alliance for Care at Home or Medicare can help you find hospice services near you.
Check your insurance coverage
If you have insurance through Medicare, Medicaid, or the Veteran's Administration, talk with your cancer care team about how you can get hospice benefits when they are needed.
If you have a private insurance plan, check with your insurer to find out if you have hospice coverage. If you do, find out what options you have, including any preferred hospice providers. Doing this ahead of time can save some stress later.
What to look for in a hospice program
There are many things to look at when choosing a hospice program to best meet your needs. First, you’ll want to talk with your cancer care team and decide what services you’ll need. Then you can look for hospice programs that offer those services. Here are some of the things you might ask about a hospice program or agency.
Check if an agency is accredited. This means it’s certified and licensed by a nationally recognized group. Examples include the Joint Commission, Accreditation Commission for Healthcare (ACHC), or Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP). This standard confirms the care is safe and high quality.
Medicare-certified programs must meet requirements for patient care and management. Many non-Medicare health plans follow Medicare's guidance on approval and certification. Medicare will only pay for hospice services provided by a Medicare-approved provider.
You can check with your state health department to find out if your state requires a hospice provider or program to be licensed.
Find out how long the hospice program has been serving your community. Ask them to give you references from professionals, such as hospital staff or social workers, who have sent other people to them. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau, your local Consumer Bureau, or the State Attorney General’s office.
Changing hospice providers
If you aren’t happy with the hospice service you choose, you can change providers.
Check with your insurance company to be sure that you can make this change without interrupting payments or services.
Questions to ask hospice providers
- Do you have any brochures or written information about your program and the services you provide?
- Are there any specific services you provide that aren’t available in my area?
- Who can I talk to about costs of hospice and how payments are made?
- Who is on my hospice care team? What are their roles?
- How often will I be seen by members of the team?
- Will I see the same people?
- How will my symptoms be controlled? If my symptoms can’t be controlled at home, how can they be managed in other settings?
- How do you manage needs after regular business hours?
- Can I continue my current medicines?
- How is your program different than other hospice providers?
- What is your emergency plan for a power outage, natural disaster, or bad weather?
- How do I communicate with my hospice team?
- Can I continue to see my other doctors if I am under hospice care?
See Levels of Hospice Care for more details about what different hospice programs might offer and what questions to ask.
Questions to ask your healthcare team if you’re thinking about hospice care
If you are told that your cancer can no longer be controlled, you may want to ask your healthcare team about hospice care. You should know the benefits of hospice care and any restrictions on treatment or other services. Here are some questions to consider asking:
- Do you think it's time for me to consider hospice? Why or why not?
- What will hospice offer me that you cannot?
- What will hospice not be able to offer me?
- Will I still be able to make decisions about my care?
- Where do you suggest I get hospice care?
- Do you think I will need special equipment?
- Will you still be involved in my care if I decide to get hospice services?
- What's the next step?
- Can someone help me contact hospice programs?
- Are there certain hospice providers you suggest?
- Is there a cost difference in hospice providers?
- What if I sign up for hospice then change my mind?
- What should I tell my family?
- What should I do if I have an emergency while I'm getting hospice care?
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
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Last Revised: June 1, 2026
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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