Hospice programs are available to help terminally 

ill individuals live their remaining days with 

dignity. These programs can assist the family (or 

other designated caregiver) in making the patient 

as comfortable as possible, and assistance is 

available around the clock, seven days a week.

Hospice is primarily a concept of care, not a 

specific place of care. Hospice care usually is 

provided in the patient’s home. It also can be 

made available at a special hospice residence. 

Hospice is a combination of services designed to 

address not only the physical needs of patients, 

but also the psychosocial needs of patients, their 

loved ones. Hospice combines pain control, 

symptom management and emotional and 

spiritual support. Seniors and their families 

participate fully in the health care provided. The 

hospice team develops a care plan to address each 

patient’s individual needs. The hospice care team 

usually includes: 

• The terminally ill patient and his or her 

family caregiver(s) 

• Doctor 

• Nurses 

• Home health aides 

• Clergy or other spiritual counselors (e.g., 

minister, priest, rabbi) 

• Social workers 

• Volunteers (if needed, and trained to 

perform specific tasks) 

• Occupational, physical, and/or speech 

therapists (if needed) 

As with many end-of-life decisions, the 

choice to enroll in a hospice care program is a 

deeply personal thing. It depends almost as 

much on the patient’s philosophy of living 

and spiritual beliefs as it does on his or her 

physical condition and the concerns of family 

members.

HOW CAN I PAY FOR HOSPICE CARE? 

Medicare, private health insurance, and

Medicaid (in most states) cover hospice care 

for patients who meet eligibility criteria. 

Private insurance and veterans’ benefits also 

may cover hospice care under certain 

conditions. In addition, some hospice 

programs offer health care services on a 

sliding fee scale basis for patients with limited 

income and resources. To get help with your 

Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE 

(1-800-633-4227, TTY/ TDD: 1-877-486-

2048 for the speech and hearing impaired) or 

visit: http://www.medicare.gov.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT 

HOSPICE CARE? 

Caring Connections, a program of the 

National Hospice and Palliative Care 

Organization (NHPCO), is a national 

consumer and community engagement 

initiative to improve care at the end of life. 

The program offers a web site and a HelpLine 

800-658-8898. Visit 

http://www.hospiceinfo.org to learn more. 

Hospice Care
Another resource is the Hospice Foundation 

of America, which can be reached by calling 

1-800- 854-3402 or by visiting the 

organization’s website at 

http://www.hospicefoundation.org.

The Hospice Association of America provides 

information about hospice programs and how 

terminally ill patients and their families can 

find hospice services in their area. Call 202-

546-4759 or visit the association’s website at 

http://www.nahc.org/HAA/consumerInfo.htm

l. 

Hospice Net at http://www.hospicenet.org is 

one more website where you can get 

information about how to find a hospice that 

is right for you. 

To find out more about hospice programs 

where you live, you can contact your local 

aging information and assistance provider or 

area agency on aging (AAA). The Eldercare 

Locator, a public service of the 

Administration on Aging (at 1-800-677-1116 

or http://www.eldercare.gov) can help 

connect you to these agencies.

For more information about ACL

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Administration for Community 

Living, Washington DC 20201

Phone: (202) 619 – 0724

Fax: (202) 357 – 3555

Email: ACLinfo@acl.hhs.gov

Web: http://www.aoa.gov