About Hospice Care

Hospice is a type of medical care that gives seriously ill patients and their loved ones meaningful time together when the focus of care turns from active treatment to comfort and quality of life near the end of life. Hospice is not a place. Rather, it is a full range of services that put patients and families in control, giving them hope about their last days, weeks and months together.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is end-of-life support for people with advanced illnesses. Learn more about how hospice care provides comfort for patients and their families.

A physician consults an iPad while talking with two other men at a table

Hospice and Holistic Therapies

The following therapies are being used by many hospices, including VITAS Healthcare, to complement the physical, emotional and spiritual care they provide to their patients and families.

Hospice and Morphine

Morphine is the mainstay of pain relief associated with anything from childbirth to advanced cancer, whether the patient can expect a full recovery or is receiving hospice services.

A physician talks with and holds the hand of a woman who is lying down in bed

Hospice Care Myths and Facts

Hospice is not a place, nor is it a last resort, or a religious practice. Review our list of the top 16 myths about hospice and learn the truth.

A man sitting up in bed at home talks to his two grandchildren

Hospice Glossary

Understanding hospice and palliative care definitions is one way to understand how we can help you or your loved one.

A caregiver holds the hands of a woman who is sitting up in bed, while both talk with a VITAS physician

Hospice is a Full Range of Care

VITAS provides this full range of services by managing care and offering support to patients and their families with a range of options that corresponds to their unique needs.

A woman lying in bed plays the tambourine while a music therapist plays guitar

Hospice Puts the Patient and Family in Control

This means the patient and family make the decisions. They are in the driver’s seat, and VITAS is there to help.

A woman seated in a wheelchair embraces her grandson as they enjoy time in an outdoor garden

The 4 Levels of Hospice Care

Medicare has defined four levels of hospice care. Learn how each level meets the specific needs of each unique hospice patient.

An older man talks with someone as he lies in bed

What Happens if I Get Better While in Hospice Care?

Choosing hospice doesn't mean the patient is required to be on hospice from that point forward. Learn how and why a patient would leave hospice.

A man seated in a wheelchair talks with a VITAS team member in a tropical garden

Home Health Care or Hospice Care?

VITAS is the leading provider of hospice care services — end-of-life care brought to each patient wherever they call home. We often get asked how hospice services compare to home health.

A VITAS nurse talks with a patient who is lying in bed, and to the patient's daughter

Considering Hospice Care? Download Our Free Hospice Discussion Guide For Families.

When someone is terminally ill, family members and loved ones need to communicate with each other in order to make the best end-of-life care decisions.

To help you start that conversation, we've made this guide, filled with questions, conversation topics and issues that will help your family know what to expect.

Download the Guide (PDF)