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The term "hospice" refers to a philosophy of support and care for terminally ill people - those who can no longer benefit from curative treatment, and whose life expectancy can be measured in weeks or months.
Hospice care recognizes death as the final stage of life, and enables people to live their final days in the comfort of their own homes with their loved ones, whenever possible.
Hospice care is provided by a team of trained professionals- physicians, nurses, counselors, therapists, aides, and volunteers - who provide medical care and support services to both the patient and their family members.
Hospice care is also available in nursing homes, hospitals, and adult living facilities for those who are unable to live in their own homes. Some hospices operate facilities for inpatient care for qualifying patients. Medicare may pay for hospice care, so individuals should visit their web site to review benefits.
The Virginia Association for Hospices' web site has both general information about hospice care, as well as information on the availability of hospice care in your community. You can also contact us for more information or assistance.
Note: Links to web sites produced by organizations other than the Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) are provided for your convenience. When you select one of these links, you will leave VDA's web site. VDA is not responsible for the content of linked web pages, and does not endorse products or services that may be offered on the linked pages. Also, the privacy policies of these sites may differ from the privacy policy followed by the Department for the Aging. Please report incorrect or outdated links to VDA's Web Designer.
