Hospice Services: What Does Hospice Include?

Learn what hospice services include and how compassionate hospice care supports patients and families through every stage of a life-limiting illness. From skilled nursing, pain and symptom management, hospice medications, and medical equipment to emotional, spiritual, and family support, discover how the interdisciplinary hospice team works together to provide comfort, dignity, and the highest possible quality of life during end-of-life care.

How Hospice Services Work Together

Choosing hospice care means gaining access to a coordinated team of healthcare professionals who work together to support both the patient and the family. Every hospice care plan is personalized based on an individual’s diagnosis, symptoms, goals, and preferences, ensuring they receive the right level of medical care, emotional support, and practical assistance. While services may vary depending on a patient’s needs, hospice is designed to provide comprehensive care that focuses on comfort, dignity, and improving quality of life wherever a patient calls home.

Every hospice care plan is personalized, but most include a core group of services that work together to support patients and their families. Below are the essential hospice services that make up a comprehensive hospice care program.

  • Skilled Nursing – Experienced hospice nurses provide regular visits to assess your condition, manage pain and symptoms, administer medications when appropriate, coordinate care, and educate family caregivers. Skilled nursing helps improve comfort and quality of life throughout the hospice journey.
  • Hospice Aides – Hospice aides provide compassionate personal care to help patients maintain comfort, dignity, and cleanliness. Assistance may include bathing, dressing, grooming, oral care, and other daily activities, while offering families additional support during the hospice journey.
  • Hospice Medications – Hospice covers medications related to the terminal diagnosis and symptom management whenever appropriate. These medications help relieve pain, control symptoms, and improve comfort, allowing patients to focus on spending time with the people they love.
  • Volunteer Services – Specially trained hospice volunteers offer companionship, caregiver relief, emotional support, and assistance with non-medical needs. Their presence provides comfort for patients while giving family caregivers valuable time to rest, recharge, or attend to personal responsibilities.
  • Pain & Symptom Management – Effective pain and symptom management is at the heart of hospice care. Your hospice team works closely with your physician to relieve pain, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, fatigue, and other symptoms, allowing patients to remain as comfortable and independent as possible.
  • Medical Social Workers – Hospice social workers provide emotional support, counseling, care coordination, and access to community resources. They help patients and families navigate difficult decisions, address practical concerns, and connect with services that ease emotional and financial stress.
  • Durable Medical Equipment – Hospice provides medically necessary equipment to help patients remain safe and comfortable at home. Depending on individual needs, this may include hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen equipment, bedside commodes, and other supportive medical devices.
  • Bereavement Support – Hospice care continues even after a loved one’s passing through bereavement services for family members. Grief counseling, educational resources, support groups, and compassionate follow-up help families navigate the grieving process and find healing.
  • Hospice Physician Services – Hospice physicians work alongside your attending physician and the interdisciplinary hospice team to oversee your plan of care. They help manage complex symptoms, review medications, and ensure every patient receives compassionate, individualized hospice care based on their changing needs.
  • Spiritual Care & Chaplain Services – Hospice chaplains provide spiritual care based on each patient’s beliefs, values, and preferences. Whether through prayer, conversation, emotional support, or simply being present, chaplains help patients and families find comfort, peace, and meaning throughout the hospice experience.
  • Medical Supplies – Hospice also provides medical supplies needed to manage a patient’s condition and maintain comfort. Items such as wound care supplies, gloves, dressings, catheters, and incontinence products are coordinated by the hospice team as part of the patient’s care plan.
  • 24/7 On-Call Clinical Support – Questions and medical concerns don’t follow a schedule. Hospice provides 24/7 access to experienced nurses and clinical professionals who are available to answer questions, provide guidance, and respond when urgent needs arise.

Meet Your Hospice Care Team

Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals who work together to create a personalized plan of care for every patient. Each team member brings specialized expertise, ensuring patients receive compassionate physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support throughout their hospice journey.

Hospice Nurse

Provides regular visits to assess the patient’s condition, manage pain and symptoms, coordinate care, and educate family caregivers.

Hospice Physician

Works with the hospice team to oversee the plan of care, manage symptoms, and ensure treatment aligns with the patient’s goals and needs.

Volunteer

Provides companionship, caregiver relief, and meaningful social interaction to help patients and families feel supported throughout the hospice journey.

Hospice Aide

Assists with personal care, including bathing, dressing, grooming, and other daily activities that help maintain comfort and dignity.

Medical Social Worker

Provides emotional support, counseling, care coordination, and guidance on community resources, advance care planning, and family needs.

Chaplain

Offers spiritual and emotional support that respects each patient’s beliefs, values, and traditions, whether religious or non-religious.

Every hospice care plan is personalized to meet the unique needs of each patient and family. By combining compassionate professionals, specialized hospice services, and coordinated support, the hospice team helps manage symptoms, improve comfort, and provide peace of mind throughout every stage of the journey.

If you have questions about hospice care or would like to learn how our compassionate team can support your loved one, we’re here to help.

Speak With Our Team ›

What Hospice Care Doesn’t Cover

While hospice provides a wide range of medical, emotional, and supportive services, it’s equally important to understand what hospice care does not include. Hospice focuses on comfort rather than curative treatment for a terminal illness, so some services that are unrelated to the hospice diagnosis or intended to cure the illness may not be covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit or other hospice insurance benefits.

For example, hospice typically does not cover treatments intended to cure the terminal illness, medications unrelated to the hospice diagnosis, emergency care that isn’t related to symptom management, or room and board in most nursing homes or assisted living communities. However, every situation is unique, and your hospice team will clearly explain what is covered, answer your questions, and help coordinate any additional care you may need.

Don’t worry—we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

You Don’t Have to Navigate Hospice Alone

Whether you’re wondering what hospice includes, when it’s time to consider hospice, or how hospice services work, our compassionate team is here to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

Have Questions About Hospice?

rEACH OUT TO US ›

Frequently Asked Questions About Hospice Services

Hospice services are designed to provide comprehensive support for patients with a life-limiting illness and their families. Hospice care typically includes skilled nursing, pain and symptom management, physician oversight, hospice aides, medical social workers, spiritual care, hospice medications related to the terminal diagnosis, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, volunteer services, bereavement support, and 24/7 on-call clinical assistance. Every hospice care plan is personalized to meet the unique needs of each patient.

Hospice care is designed for individuals with a life-limiting illness who have chosen to focus on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life rather than curative treatment. Hospice provides an interdisciplinary team that may include nurses, physicians, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, medications related to the terminal diagnosis, medical equipment, and emotional support for both patients and families.

Home health care is intended to help patients recover from an illness, injury, or surgery or manage a medical condition while continuing curative treatment. Skilled nursing, therapy services, and rehabilitation are typically provided with the goal of improving health and independence.

In-home care, also called private duty care or personal care, focuses on assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, companionship, transportation, and light housekeeping. Unlike hospice or home health, in-home care generally does not provide skilled medical treatment.

If you’re unsure which type of care is right for your loved one, our team can help explain the differences and guide you toward the most appropriate option.

Yes. Medicare Part A includes a comprehensive hospice benefit for eligible patients. In most cases, Medicare covers hospice nursing care, physician services, hospice medications related to the terminal diagnosis, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, hospice aide services, counseling, spiritual care, and bereavement support. Your hospice provider can explain your specific coverage and answer any questions about hospice benefits.

Hospice visits are based on each patient’s individual needs rather than a fixed schedule. Nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, and other members of the hospice team visit as needed to provide care, monitor symptoms, and support both the patient and family. As a patient’s condition changes, the frequency of hospice visits may also increase.

Yes. Hospice typically provides medications related to the terminal diagnosis and symptom management, along with medically necessary equipment and supplies. Depending on the patient’s needs, this may include hospital beds, oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, walkers, bedside commodes, wound care supplies, and other items that help improve comfort and quality of life.

Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals working together to support the patient and family. The hospice team often includes registered nurses, hospice physicians, hospice aides, medical social workers, chaplains, trained volunteers, and other specialists who collaborate to create and adjust an individualized plan of care.

Yes. Hospice services are commonly provided wherever a patient calls home, including a private residence, assisted living community, memory care community, or skilled nursing facility. The hospice team travels to the patient, allowing individuals to receive compassionate care in a familiar and comfortable environment whenever possible.

Absolutely. Family members remain an important part of the hospice care team. Hospice professionals provide education, guidance, and support while helping family caregivers feel confident caring for their loved one. The hospice team works alongside families to ensure patients receive compassionate, coordinated care throughout their hospice journey.

Hospice care is designed to adapt as a patient’s condition changes. The hospice team regularly evaluates symptoms, comfort, medications, and overall needs to adjust the plan of care when necessary. Additional visits, equipment, medications, or supportive services can often be arranged to help maintain comfort and quality of life.

Hospice support doesn’t end after normal business hours. Most hospice providers offer 24/7 on-call clinical support, giving patients and families access to experienced nurses who can answer questions, provide guidance, and respond to urgent symptom management needs at any time, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Getting started is easier than many families expect. You can contact Eternal Faith Hospice directly to ask questions, request a no-obligation consultation, or learn more about available hospice services. Our compassionate team will explain the process, coordinate with your physician when needed, and help determine the most appropriate next steps for your loved one.

Trusted by Families Throughout Georgia

What Families Are Saying

Still Have Questions About Hospice Services?

Choosing hospice is an important decision, and you don’t have to make it alone. Whether you have questions about hospice services, coverage, or what to expect, our compassionate team is here to provide clear answers, personalized guidance, and support every step of the way.

Speak with Our Team