Hospice is a philosophy of care that aims to give a sense of control to people near the end of a terminal illness. It can help preserve quality of life and enhance the time remaining as much as possible while allowing a person to die as comfortably and with as much dignity as possible.

Palliative care, the relief or prevention of symptoms, is central to hospice care. It’s a standard part of metastatic breast cancer care and it becomes the focus of care when active treatment for the cancer ends.

Hospice care is most often given at home, where the person is usually most comfortable. However, it can be provided as in-patient care at a hospice facility or at a hospital with hospice services.

A family member most often becomes the primary caregiver with guidance and support from a hospice team that includes a registered nurse, home health aides, a medical director, social worker, spiritual counselor and a grief counselor.

Hospice care can begin when a person has a life expectancy of 6 months or less. Although a survival time is set for enrollment, hospice care does not have a time limit. If a person in hospice care lives longer than 6 months, hospice care continues.

Most hospice programs only enroll people who have stopped active cancer treatment.

The cost of hospice is sometimes covered by Medicare and Medicaid, Health Maintenance Organizations and most private insurance companies. Hospice covers the cost of the health care team and any medicines, therapies, counseling, equipment and supplies related to care. Check with your insurance provider about the specifics of your coverage.

Discussions about end of life care can be very difficult. However talking with family members and health care providers help ensure that your wishes are carried out. With your guidance, hospice can make the later stages of cancer as comfortable as possible for you and your family.