At some point, it may not be possible to cure a serious illness. Despite many treatments, the illness might continue to affect the body without slowing down. A patient may not want to receive any more treatment. In these cases, people  often choose hospice care for the end of life.

Hospice care can be provided in many settings: at home, a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or a hospital. The point of hospice is to provide comfort care, by soothing pain and supporting the family during the end of life. In hospice, doctors mostly give medicine to reduce pain and keep the patient comfortable. Doctors do not give strong medicines to try cure the patient’s illness.

Hospice is a team effort, with the patient, family, nurses, and doctors working together. Social workers and chaplains might be involved as well. The goal is to provide the patient and their family medical, emotional and spiritual support to die comfortably.

Sometimes, patients’ illnesses improve while they are in hospice. If this happens, the patient can choose to leave hospice care.