Hospice/Palliative Care

Provides a coordinated program of professional services, including pain control and counseling for patients with a diagnosis of a terminal illness. Hospices provide nursing, physician, social work, and pastoral services; nutritional counseling; and bereavement counseling for terminally ill patients and their families. Additional services may be available. The staff is specially trained to assist the patient and family members who are dealing with death and dying. These services are provided in the patient’s place of residence, a hospital, or a hospice facility. Cost can be paid for by private funds, some insurance policies, or by Medicare or Medicaid (if the patient is eligible).