Hospices not only take care of people's physical needs, they consider their emotional, spiritual and social needs too. And they support families and close friends, both during the illness and in bereavement.
Services offered
The services offered will differ from hospice to hospice but are likely to include:
- medical and nursing care
- pain and symptom control
- rehabilitation
- therapies, including physiotherapy and complementary therapies
- spiritual support
- practical and financial advice
- bereavement care.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is the name for the type of care provided by hospices and is also provided in other places like hospitals and care homes.
Find out more about the World Health Organization's definition of palliative care.
When support is offered
People may be referred for hospice care as soon as a diagnosis is made, not just at the very end of life.
Find out more about how referrals are made.
Find out more
You can find out more about:
For more information on hospice care, you can download our leaflet – What is hospice care?
You can also read about the history of hospice care.
