Hospice care is a type of healthcare that is focused on attending to the needs of people who are facing the final stages of life. It offers a caring support system when life-prolonging treatment is no longer an option or a preference. It is a concept based on comfort care with the goal of improving the quality of life by attending to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the individual.
Although many people don’t enter hospice until the final days of their lives, hospice care can be provided to people who are believed to have up to 6 months to live. Hospice care includes palliative care and can be provided in your home or at a hospice care center.
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Hospice care services and approaches
Hospice care for lung cancer may include:
- Healthcare coordination: They can coordinate your care with other healthcare team members.
- Supportive care: This is also called palliative care which addresses symptoms of lung cancer.
- Family updates: Your hospice care team can address concerns and answer questions about end-of-life.
- Respite care: Your hospice team may be able to provide up to 5 consecutive days and nights of care to allow the primary caregivers time away to rest.
- Spiritual care: Hospice care teams may be able to connect you with religious advisors or spiritual guides to help arrange religious ceremonies or rituals.
- Bereavement care: Hospice care teams can provide counseling, spiritual guidance, help with practical tasks, and referrals to support groups after the passing of a loved one.
Your healthcare team can offer you guidance on making decisions about lung cancer hospice care, including when to think about starting it, how to choose a provider, and what to expect once care is started.
Hospice care resources and support
Hospice care and end-of-life resources are available for you and your loved ones.
- Hospice Foundation of America is a national organization that helps you find a hospice care center, provide information on what to expect at the end of life, and how to find grief support. They also provide training for hospice care professionals.
- Caring Connections is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). They provide free resources and information to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis happens.
- Aging with Dignity is a non-profit organization that provides a user-friendly advanced directive document. This is a formal, written plan that lets your loved ones and your care team know your future choices for healthcare and end-of-life care.
- Palliative Doctors is a website run by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. It provides information and resources about hospice and palliative care.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find more resources and support?
Contact the GO2 HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org to connect with caring and highly trained staff who listen, answer your questions, and provide support. We offer many free programs and educational resources to meet your needs.
When can hospice care begin?
You can get a referral to hospice care when your life expectancy is 6 months or less. At this time, active treatment stops, and the hospice care team will focus on physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Who pays for hospice care?
Most insurance providers cover hospice care for lung cancer. Ask your hospice provider about any costs that may not be covered by insurance.
Can I choose to stop hospice once it is started?
You can stop hospice care for lung cancer at any time. However, it’s designed to provide comfort care and can be very helpful. Sometimes people actually live longer on hospice care because the stress of treatment has ended, and the emphasis is on quality of life and enhancing wellbeing.
What is the difference between hospice care and palliative care?
Hospice care is an option when a person has 6 months or less to live. It is usually provided after active treatment has ended.
Palliative care is for any person with lung cancer. It can begin at diagnosis, continue as long as it is needed, and be given in any setting. It can be a part of your care while you're in treatment and be continued as a part of hospice care as needed.