Hospice care focuses on comfort and dignity, rather than treatment and cure. For those of us who find ourselves battling illnesses, we may reach a point where those diseases become terminal. When this happens, we must come to terms with the fact that we are in our end-of-life phase. At this point, we stop trying to cure and we begin to focus solely on finding peace in our last days. Hospice care is a compassionate approach to end-of-life management, giving people quality of life, which can include palliative treatments, pain management and emotional support.
As you find yourself in the critical position of making important and difficult decisions about the care of your own loved one, this hospice care guide is designed to help you understand the service, determine eligibility, know the benefits, see how it works, and clarify preconceived myths and misconceptions.
There is a distinct philosophy behind hospice care:
Hospice care believes that every individual deserves a death that is free from as much pain and discomfort as possible, and that the end of life should be a natural, dignified process.
This is often the ideal form of care for those suffering from life-limiting illnesses and terminal diseases but is also common in cases where the senior is simply approaching the end of their natural life and requires some assistance to stay comfortable in their final days.
To fully understand hospice care, it’s helpful to know the key principles that guide this service.
The physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of your loved one are addressed, recognizing the importance of treating the whole person rather than just their illness with the help of health care providers.
Respecting the wishes of your loved one and your family, hospice care involves everyone in the decision-making process to ensure that care aligns with your values and preferences.
The primary goal is to enhance quality of life for the remaining days, not to prolong life unnaturally. This includes the effective management of pain and other distressing symptoms.
There is a collaboration among healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to your family member, including physicians, nurses, social workers and therapists.
Recognizing the emotional and practical challenges faced by your family, hospice services include emotional support, counselling and respite care to help you cope with the situation, both during and after your loved one’s serious illness.
Hospice care accepts death as a natural part of life. This translates into empathetic support for your loved one so they may experience a peaceful and meaningful end-of-life journey, without aggressive attempts to cure terminal illnesses.
Hospice services are comprehensive and all-encompassing, reflecting the model’s holistic approach to end-of-life care. Each of these services has its time and place, and hospice care is customized to the needs of your family and your loved one.
Pain and symptom management to ensure your senior is comfortable with the highest possible quality of life, given the situation.
Regular assessment and treatment by healthcare professionals to manage the serious illness and related conditions.
Skilled nursing care for medication administration, wound care, and ongoing health monitoring, including the provision and oversight of medications to manage pain and symptoms.
Counselling and ongoing support for your loved one and your family to help you cope with the difficult emotional and psychological aspects of terminal illness.
Assistance with practical and financial concerns, advanced care planning, and connecting you to community resources.
Temporary relief for you or other family caregivers, allowing you time to rest, so you can take care of your own needs too.
Provision of medical equipment, such as hospital beds, wheelchairs and other necessary supplies, if your loved one is receiving at-home hospice care.
Therapies to enhance comfort, maintain function and improve quality of life, as needed and appropriate.
Guidance and support for your senior loved one’s dietary needs to ensure their well-being.
Massage, music therapy, aromatherapy or others, designed to provide your loved one with additional comfort and relief.
Addressing spiritual needs and providing spiritual support services regardless of religious beliefs, often through chaplain visits.
Grief counselling and support groups for family members, both before and after the death of your loved one.
As you can see, the range of available hospice care services reflect the comprehensive nature of this type of care. From hospice doctors, to nurses, to therapeutic practitioners, everyone works together carefully and diligently, with patient and family wishes always remaining top priority.
The health professionals who comprise a hospice care team each bring their own skills and experiences, resulting in a multidisciplinary approach that gives your loved one the best possible care in their final stage of life.
Hospice is a very sensitive and specialized form of care, so providers must ensure your ultimate eligibility before services commence. While different regions and programs have their own eligibility requirements, these are the most common criteria that must be met to receive hospice care.
You must prove your loved one’s diagnosis and prognosis, typically six months or less. Usually, the prognosis is determined and confirmed by at least two physicians.
Consent must be given in the form of legal documents, signed either by your loved one or their legal healthcare proxy. This documentation clearly outlines that consent is given to hospice care, and that palliative care services have been chosen over any form of curative treatment.
There must be full acceptance that resuscitation won’t be used when the life-limiting illness brings a natural death.
Your loved one must undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to assess their needs, symptoms and overall suitability for hospice care. They must be determined to require the level of care provided by hospice services, including symptom management, pain control and other palliative interventions.
An individualized plan for hospice care must be developed to outline what services and support your loved one will receive in order to effectively manage their condition and give them maximum quality of life.
It’s important for you to know that these eligibility criteria are in place in order to ensure that only those who can benefit most from a hospice approach actually receive this form of care.
Your loved one deserves comfort, dignity and support right up until the day they pass, and if it’s determined that hospice services are the right choice, there is an admission process you will need to follow. Here’s what that might look like.
Your loved one’s name is Maxine.
Today, she is 86 years old. She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 80 and is no longer responding to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Her family physician recommends that she stop treatment and apply for hospice care, given that her prognosis is now 5 months.
You and your family decide that the most ideal scenario will be hospice care at home.
Maxine’s doctor gives you a referral to a local at-home hospice care service.
A healthcare professional from the hospice team conducts an in-depth medical assessment on Maxine.
The entire hospice care team, including physicians and nurses, reviews the assessment and confirms that she is eligible to receive at-home hospice services.
You and your family engage in detailed discussions with the hospice team about your goals of care. Informed consent is given for Maxine to receive palliative services, focusing on comfort and quality of life, not a cure.
The hospice team creates a care plan according to the preferences you stated. In the comfort of her home, Maxine will receive symptom and pain management, medical services, massage and spiritual services. Your family has also opted for occasional respite relief and scheduled grief counselling sessions.
Care begins, and the team informs you that there will be ongoing assessments and support to ensure that the care plan is revisited frequently and adjusted according to Maxine’s changing needs.
When it’s determined to be the right and most ideal form of care for your loved one, a hospice service can benefit both your senior them and your family in a number of ways.
Hospice care focuses on effectively managing physical pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, and other distressing symptoms to provide comfort and reduce suffering.
Patients receive counselling, emotional care, chaplain or spiritual advisor visits, and opportunities to express fears or life reflections, tailored to their beliefs and needs.
By allowing your loved one to remain in familiar surroundings, respect personal preferences, and make decisions about their care, hospice cares for more than just the body – it fosters dignity and emotional wellbeing.
A multidisciplinary hospice team works together to tailor care plans that adapt over time to changing needs, from medical treatments to therapy and daily routines, ensuring all aspects of comfort are addressed.
End-of-life care provides ongoing counselling, support groups, and guidance before and after loss to help family members process grief, anticipatory emotions, and adjust to changes.
By stepping in with trained professionals, hospice care gives family caregivers breaks, reduces stress, and allows them to rest, recharge, or attend to their own needs.
Families receive help navigating healthcare decisions, handling daily medical tasks, managing medications, understanding what to expect, and accessing needed equipment and resources.
Hospice care helps ensure your loved one’s preferences (about treatments, place of death, end-of-life rituals) are honored and reduces uncertainty by offering clear communication and coordinated care.
Comparing care in the last six months of a person’s life, Canada’s average hospital expenses ($21,840 USD) are higher than the United States ($18,500 USD), England ($9,352 USD) and the Netherlands ($10,936 USD). The discrepancy between costs and care provided is linked to Canadians’ heavy reliance on hospitals for end-of-life care. This profoundly impacts both the quality of care provided during a person’s final days and the expense associated with this care.
MF Homecare is an independent platform that lets families book caregivers in their area on demand, without the premiums of traditional care agencies.
Hospice services can be provided in one of three settings:
Each setting offers its own unique features and it’s up to you to make an informed decision for your loved one. In certain cases, one setting may far outweigh another, whereas sometimes there may be no choice and the senior’s condition dictates the place of care.
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Description |
Care provided in own home, focusing on personal care, household assistance and medical care (if needed) |
A facility designed specifically for hospice care, providing a home-like environment with professional support |
Typically for patients with complex medical needs, care is provided within a hospital setting |
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Features |
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Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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There are numerous considerations to make as you are deciding the best hospice care setting. The more educated and informed you are, the better. Cross reference the features, pros and cons with the needs of your family to help you arrive at the most fitting solution.
Caring for a family member in their final stage of life is one of the most difficult responsibilities we can take on. From the day-to-day responsibilities right through to the emotional stress, the weight we carry on our shoulders is tremendous. If you find yourself in such a situation, here are a few things to keep in mind as you do your best to cope effectively.
First and foremost, recognize the signs of stress and burnout including exhaustion, irritability, poor sleep and feelings of helplessness. When you take action quickly, you prevent the situation from getting worse. Positive actions can include:
Maintain open lines of communication with the entire hospice care team. Tell them about your loved one’s needs and notify them when those needs evolve over time. When you need assistance, communicate those requirements promptly – this is imperative to your health and the quality of care your loved one receives.
Never feel hesitant or ashamed to ask for help. Sometimes it might be as simple as a supportive conversation, other times a shoulder to cry on. Connect with the people in your life who understand the caregiver experience and can truly be there for you.
Consider counselling or therapy to help you process the complex emotions associated with caring for a loved one in hospice, and guide you towards the development of effective coping strategies.
For additional information and resources catered to at-home family caregivers, visit Healthcare Excellence Canada.
If you think you could benefit from specialized programs or a helpline to share your feelings and experiences, familiarize yourself with The Ontario Caregiver Organization, which runs its very own 24/7 caregiver helpline.
There are numerous myths and misconceptions within the hospice care space and I’m here to set them straight for you.
Quite the contrary. Hospice care means accepting the fact that a loved one has a terminal illness that cannot be cured or is in their final stage of life and ought to go through it without pain and unmanageable symptoms, and with comfort, dignity and quality of life.
False. Hospice care is designed for anyone with a terminal illness, or for those who have simply reached the final phase of life and would benefit most from hospice services to keep them comfortable and peaceful.
Not necessarily. It depends on the different forms of hospice services that are required, how long care is needed and the setting in which it takes place. There are also community options and government subsidized programs you can take advantage of if you qualify.
False. Hospice care does not mean an absolute commitment to death, but rather acts as a comprehensive service for those with conditions that don’t have a likely cure. You have the right to leave hospice whenever you wish in order to pursue other forms of care – even curative measures if the patient’s condition improves.
Control is always maintained, and hospice care is not forced on anyone. It’ is just as much for the senior’s family and loved ones as it is for the senior. Family members can choose to have as much involvement as they wish throughout the process.
In fact, anyone can request hospice care without the need for a formalized referral from a doctor. Once the process is initiated, the senior will be assessed, and doctors will be involved in the qualification procedures to ensure hospice is the ideal choice.
Hospice care vs. palliative care: Both hospice and palliative care alleviate suffering and enhance the quality of life of the patient. But the difference between the two is that hospice care is for people with life-limiting diseases who are no longer pursuing a cure, whereas palliative care can begin as soon as a patient is diagnosed with a particular condition.
The first step in your decision-making process is forming a solid understanding of hospice care and everything it has to offer. Explore the benefits and challenges of hospice services in different settings, discuss with your loved one and family members if possible, and keep your eyes on the big picture: providing a safe, comfortable and peaceful final journey.
Hospice care can empower you and your family to embrace a supportive service dedicated to giving a compassionate and meaningful end-of-life experience.
When you use MF Homecare to hire a companion or caregiver, you’re able to obtain affordable support where nursing or specialized medical care isn’t required. They can provide care in the form of bathing, dressing, light cleaning, medication reminders and meal preparation. This gives you an opportunity to spend quality time with your family member, instead of constantly worrying about personal care and household tasks every time you visit.
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“The association between varying levels of palliative care involvement on costs during terminal hospitalizations in Canada from 2012 to 2015.” BMC Health Services Research, April 13, 2021.
“Table 13-10-0715-01 Deaths, by place of death (hospital or non-hospital).” Statistics Canada, 2025.
“Improving end-of-life care is the compassionate and cost-effective solution to Canada’s health crisis.” The Hub, September 28, 2023.
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