American Hospice Foundation, Washington DC, USA

Hospice is not a "place" – it is a set of specialized services to help patients and families cope with terminal illness.

Hospice care is appropriate for people at the end-stage of a wide range of health conditions and illnesses.

There are many reasons why patients with a terminal illness choose hospice care.

With the Medicare Hospice Benefit, there are usually no bills and no out-of-pocket costs for the patient and the family.

Which services a patient receives and how often services are received are based on the needs of each patient and family.

Patients with a terminal illness can receive hospice care and services in the location that is most appropriate for them.

Hospice care helps patients and families by providing a variety of services, including regular visits, consultants, pain management, emotional and spiritual support.

In a nursing home setting, hospice provides support to patients, families, and nursing home staff. This support includes much of the same attention afforded to patients at home.

Patients with a terminal illness usually do not have to pay for hospice care. Hospice costs are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, The Veteran's Health Administration, and (in many cases) private insurance companies.