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Hospice & Palliative Care Basics

Considering the end of life is not easy, whether you are planning for the future or coping with serious illness right now. VITAS provides compassionate hospice care to patients with a life-limiting illness, and our palliative care team focuses on symptom management, pain relief and quality-of-life issues for patients facing chronic, complex or serious illnesses. Explore a range of supportive, VITAS-provided resources in more detail.

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A man lying in bed and his wife, standing next to him, talk with a VITAS team member
Is it Time for Hospice? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself How to Choose a Hospice Provider Talking About Hospice With Your Family Talking to Your Doctor about Hospice Hospice Is a Choice View all When is it Time for Hospice?
A group of VITAS team members including a nurse, physician, social worker and sales representative
A Day in the Life of a Hospice Physician A Day in the Life of a Hospice Nurse A Day in the Life of a Hospice Social Worker What Do Hospice Social Workers Do? A Day in the Life of a Hospice Chaplain View all The Hospice Care Team
A physician seated at a table talks with two people while they look at a tablet
Who Pays for Hospice? Medicare and the Cost of Hospice Insurance and Hospice Hospice and the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) View all Paying for Hospice
A VITAS team member talks with a patient in bed, who is surrounded by two of his family members
FAQs about Hospice Services FAQs about Paying for Hospice FAQs about Hospice and Medical Conditions View all Hospice FAQs
A VITAS physician holding a tablet checks on a patient as he sits up in bed
What is Palliative Care? Palliative vs. Hospice Care: What's the Difference? How Palliative Care Helps Families and Caregivers How Can Palliative Care Help Cancer Patients? Paying for Palliative Care View all About Palliative Care
A woman tends to a flowering plant in a pot
Living Wills and Advance Directives Having a Conversation about the End of Life Does Hospice Require You to Sign a DNR? What is a Do Not Intubate Order? Challenges in Pediatric End-of-Life Care View all End-of-Life Care Planning

The 4 Levels of Hospice Care

Stylized icon of a house.

Hospice Care at Home Stylized icon for VITAS's round-the-clock Intensive Comfort Care.

Intensive Comfort Care® Stylized icon of a hospital bed.

Inpatient Care Stylized icon of a hot beverage in a mug.

Respite Care

What People Say About Us

Jacquelyn with her mother

“They tended to both my husband and my mother. I had an aide who came every day. At night, if my husband got sick, all I had to do was call... no matter what time of night it was.”

- Jacquelyn J., August 2017

“Everybody that came in communication with me and my family when my husband was on hospice was wonderful. They really care about you as a person and care for your family member like they are their own family.”

- Cheryl F., November 2023
Read VITAS Reviews

We’re Here For You 24/7

Our hospice care experts are available 24/7 to help answer questions, provide support, and make sure all of your needs are met.

800.582.9533 Frequently Asked Questions

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