When an aging parent or relative is facing a life-limiting illness, making decisions about their care can feel overwhelming. Families want their loved ones to be as comfortable as possible in their final moments but aren’t always sure where to turn for the right support. Fortunately, hospice care is here to help.
Hospice care is a compassionate model of care that aims to improve quality of life for both the patient and their family. While hospice services can be offered in a variety of settings, many people find that receiving care at home—surrounded by familiar faces and in a comforting environment—can be particularly beneficial.
In this blog, we’ll answer key questions like: What is hospice care? How does it differ from palliative care? What services are included? And when might it be the right choice for your loved one?
Jump Ahead:
- What Is Hospice Care?
- Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care: Key Differences You Should Know
- When Is the Right Time to Consider Hospice Care?
- The Hospice Care Team
- Comprehensive Hospice Services: What’s Included in Your Care Plan
- Finding Hospice Care in North Carolina
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a specialized type of medical care for individuals facing a life-limiting illness. The goal of hospice care isn’t to cure illness but rather to help patients live their final months as comfortably and as fully as possible.
Hospice care takes a whole-person approach. An interdisciplinary team collaborates to develop a personalized care plan focused on the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the patient. This care plan might include pain management, symptom relief, and counseling. Support is also provided to friends and family members.
Hospice care is often offered in the comfort of the patient’s own home. However, it can also be delivered in specialized hospice houses, nursing facilities, and hospitals. Wherever care is provided, the aim is to ensure the patient is as comfortable and supported as possible.
Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care: Key Differences You Should Know
Both hospice care and palliative care focus on improving quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses. However, the two care models differ in important ways, especially when it comes to timing, eligibility, and treatment goals.
Palliative care is available at any stage of a serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatments. It focuses on relieving pain and symptoms while offering emotional support. Hospice care, on the other hand, is a type of palliative care provided during the final phase of life. It’s usually recommended when a doctor believes the patient has six months or less to live and curative treatments are no longer an option. At this point, the focus is all about comfort, dignity, and offering support to the patient and their loved ones.
The chart below summarizes the key differences between hospice and palliative care.
Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care
| Attribute | Hospice Care | Palliative Care |
| Timing | Provided during the final phase of life (usually when the prognosis is six months or less) | Can be provided at any stage of a serious illness |
| Eligibility | For individuals with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less | Available to anyone with a serious illness, regardless of prognosis |
| Treatment Goals | Comfort care, pain relief, and support when curative treatments are no longer pursued | Symptom relief, pain management, and emotional support alongside curative treatments |
| Location of Care | Typically provided at home, in hospice houses, or in nursing facilities | Can be provided at home, in hospitals, or in outpatient settings |
| Coverage and Payment | Generally covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances, with fewer out-of-pocket costs for families | Typically covered by insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid; may require copays |
| Scope of Services | Focuses on comfort care, pain management, emotional and spiritual support, respite care, and bereavement services | Includes symptom management, emotional support, care coordination, and curative treatments |
When Is the Right Time to Consider Hospice?
Planning for hospice care is never easy. As a patient, you may struggle to accept what this next phase of care represents, especially if you have been holding onto the prospect of recovery. For loved ones, it can be just as hard. Families often wrestle with guilt, worried that choosing hospice means closing the door on hope.
But hospice isn’t about giving up—it’s about shifting the focus. When curative treatments are no longer effective or desired, hospice offers a way to prioritize comfort, preserve dignity, and make the most of the time that remains.
Signs That Hospice Might Be Appropriate
Hospice care is considered when a serious illness has advanced to the point where curative treatments are no longer effective. Typically, a medical provider recommends hospice when the individual has a life expectancy of six months or less.
If you’re wondering when to start hospice care for yourself or a loved one, there are several signs that may help guide your decision. These include:
- Frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits
- Noticeable decline in physical or cognitive abilities
- Increasing need for help with daily tasks, such as bathing or eating
- Weight loss, weakness, or fatigue that continues to worsen
- Difficulty managing pain or symptoms despite treatment
- Loss of interest in food, social activities, or surroundings
- Repeated infections or complications related to the illness
Medical Eligibility Criteria
To receive hospice care under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, certain conditions must be met:
- The individual must be eligible for and enrolled in Medicare Part A.
- A physician must certify that the patient has a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less.
- The patient must choose to receive hospice care rather than treatments intended to cure the illness.
- Services must be delivered by a hospice organization approved by Medicare.
It’s important to note that hospice care can continue beyond six months as long as the patient remains medically eligible.
The Importance of Early Referrals
Many families put off conversations about hospice care, often fearing it’s too soon. However, early hospice referrals actually improve patients’ quality of life by managing pain and symptoms and providing vital emotional support. This helps patients live as fully as possible, surrounded by loved ones and in control of their care.
If you’re debating when to start hospice care, it’s important to remember that it’s not an irreversible decision. If the patient’s condition improves, they can transition back to curative care.
The Hospice Care Team
Hospice care is delivered by an interdisciplinary team dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive support.
- Hospice physicians and medical directors offer guidance on the progression of the illness and ensure the care plan aligns with the patient’s needs and wishes.
- Nurses provide around-the-clock support, monitoring the patient’s condition, managing pain and symptoms, administering medications, and offering guidance to the patient and their family.
- Hospice aides assist with daily personal care tasks, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and toileting.
- Social workers help patients and families navigate the emotional, social, and practical aspects of end-of-life care. They provide counseling, help with financial and legal matters, and offer resources for family support.
- Chaplains and spiritual counselors offer guidance, prayer, and a listening ear during emotional and spiritual distress.
- Volunteers provide companionship, respite for family members, and help with tasks or errands. Their support eases the emotional load for families.
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapists may be involved to enhance the patient’s mobility, quality of life, and communication.
- Bereavement counselors support families before and after the loss of a loved one.
Comprehensive Hospice Services: What’s Included in Your Care Plan
Hospice care is about providing patients and their families with the holistic support they need to navigate the final stages of life with comfort and dignity.
Hospice services typically include:
Pain and Symptom Management
Hospice care prioritizes comfort over cure, focusing on easing pain and managing symptoms like nausea, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The goal is to help patients focus on making meaningful memories with loved ones.
Personal Care Assistance
Hospice aides assist with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and grooming, helping patients maintain dignity. Their consistent support also eases the burden on loved ones.
Emotional and Spiritual Support
Facing a terminal illness can be very emotional. Hospice professionals, including social workers, chaplains, and therapists, provide a safe space for patients to process these feelings. They also offer families resources to manage caregiving challenges.
Education for Family Caregivers
Hospice teams provide family members with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their loved one’s care. They also assist with financial education, helping families understand insurance coverage, payment options, and available resources.
Medication Management
Hospice handles the medications your loved one needs to stay comfortable, including those for pain relief, nausea, and other symptoms. The care team coordinates with doctors and pharmacists to ensure medications are delivered on time, dosed correctly, and taken safely.
Medical Equipment and Supplies
For in-home care, hospice providers will typically deliver a hospital bed, wheelchair, oxygen tanks, and other everyday essentials. In inpatient settings, these items are provided on-site.
Respite Care Options
Respite care gives family caregivers a temporary break, typically lasting up to five days. During this time, patients receive high-quality care in an in-patient facility, allowing caregivers to rest, recharge, and attend to their own needs.
Bereavement Support for Families
After a loved one’s passing, hospice teams provide bereavement resources such as one-on-one counseling and group therapy. This ongoing support helps families begin healing in the wake of loss.
Finding Hospice Care in North Carolina
If you’re exploring hospice care for yourself or a loved one, Carolina Caring is here to support you every step of the way. As a trusted nonprofit healthcare provider, we offer expert, compassionate hospice services to individuals and families across more than 12 counties.
Whether care is provided in the comfort of your home or at one of our dedicated hospice houses, our interdisciplinary team works closely with you to address your loved one’s medical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
If you have questions about hospice and palliative care in North Carolina, Carolina Caring’s team is ready to help. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone—let us walk alongside you.
