Return to top. Patients routinely receive periodic in-home services of a nurse, home health aide, psychosocial professional and other members of the hospice interdisciplinary team. Hospice treats the person, not the disease. Hospice professionals and volunteers address the medical, social, psychological, and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Patients and families are included in the decision-making process, and bereavement counseling is provided to the family following the death of their loved one.
Hospice offers palliative rather than curative treatment.
Sophisticated methods of pain and symptom control enable the patient to live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice emphasizes quality, rather than length of life. Hospice is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. For my Mom, it meant a high quality of life and care from loving, committed and thoughtful professionals. For that we are ever grateful.