Hospice care is end of life care that is provided by a team of professionals and volunteers who give medical, psychological, and spiritual support to help give dying people, peace, comfort, and dignity throughout their last days. The patient's caregivers will do their best to try and control any pain and other symptoms, so your loved one can remain as alert and comfortable as possible.

Hospice care also provides counseling services to help family members manage the practical details and emotional challenges of caring for a loved one who is dying. Hospice services are not intended to speed up or prolong the dying process of a loved one, instead they focus on helping to relieve pain and other symptoms. The hospice caregivers are concerned with enhancing the quality of life of the patient during their remaining days, by keeping them as alert and comfortable as possible, while in a familiar environment and hopefully surrounded by close family and friends.

Hospice care services can be provided in a patient's own home or in a hospice center. Some hospices also offer end of life services in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or hospitals. However, most of the time, hospice care is provided in one's home. Typically, it's a family member or loved one will look after the patient most of the time. And someone from hospice care team will likely visit you for an hour or so one or more times a week, while the hospice team to give your loved one the best care possible.

Usually, a hospice patient is expected to live 6 months or less. Hospice care can take place