What is Hospice Care?

HOSPICE CARE

Hospice is about living fully, surrounded by love.

It’s not defined by a place, but by a philosophy of care that honors dignity, comfort, and connection. With a palliative approach focused on easing pain and nurturing peace, hospice helps individuals embrace each day with meaning, creating space for cherished moments with family and friends.

Hospice is focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

It’s about more than managing symptoms, it’s about honoring every moment. Hospice care provides emotional and spiritual support, helping individuals and families find peace, connection, and meaning during this stage of life. With compassionate guidance, hospice ensures that each day is lived with comfort and surrounded by love.

Hospice is designed to keep you where you feel most at peace—at home.

Home is where comfort lives, where memories are made, and where love surrounds you. Hospice care strives to honor that by helping you remain in the place you call home, whether it’s a house, apartment, or wherever you lay your head at night. Instead of frequent hospital visits, our team brings care to you, managing symptoms, offering support, and creating a sense of security right where you belong. Because home is familiar, comforting, and filled with meaning, we do our best to “bring the hospital to you” so you can focus on living each day with dignity and ease.

Understanding Hospice Care at Dignity Hospice

What Is Hospice?

Hospice is a philosophy of care that focuses on comfort, dignity, and support for individuals in the final stages of a terminal illness. It is not defined by a place, but by the care itself, delivered wherever patients feel most at home, whether in their own residence, a care facility, or a hospice center.

At Dignity Hospice, our mission is to help patients and families find peace and meaning during this tender chapter of life. Hospice care is designed to ease physical pain, provide emotional and spiritual support, and help loved ones make the most of their time together.

What Is Covered Under Hospice?

Hospice care is a comprehensive approach to comfort and support. At Dignity Hospice, services typically include:

Medical Care: Pain and symptom management provided by skilled professionals.
Emotional & Spiritual Support: Counseling and guidance for patients and families, honoring individual beliefs and values.
Bereavement Services: Continued support for families after loss.
Practical Assistance: Help with everyday tasks such as errands, household chores, and meal preparation.

Our goal is to relieve burdens so families can focus on what matters most—cherishing time together.

Who Pays for Hospice?

At Dignity Hospice, there are no out-of-pocket expenses for patients or families. Hospice is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, ensuring that compassionate care is accessible when it is needed most.

Levels of Hospice Care

Hospice care is tailored to each patient’s needs and may include four distinct levels:

Routine Care – The most common level, provided in the patient’s home with support from physicians, nurses, aides, and other professionals.
Continuous Home Care – Short-term, intensive care at home when symptoms require close monitoring and management.
General Inpatient Care – Care provided in a hospice facility or hospital when symptoms cannot be managed at home.
Respite Care – Short-term care (typically up to five days) that allows caregivers to rest and recharge while their loved one receives professional support.

At Dignity Hospice, we adjust the level of care as needs change, ensuring patients and families receive the right support at the right time.