Facts & Resources

Research, resources, and education about hospice and palliative care.

Knowledge Center

There are a lot of common misconceptions about hospice and palliative care. Below are helpful resources to help you understand exactly what serious illness care is, and how it serves patients and caregivers across the country.

Key Facts

Palliative care is available to anyone, at any stage: patients can access palliative care at any stage of their illness to receive treatments and therapies to improve their quality of life.

Source: Health.com

There are 4 various levels of hospice care: Routine Home, Continuous Home, Inpatient Respite, General Inpatient.

Source: Medicare.gov

Hospice care is provided by a range of providers: doctors, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, chaplains, pharmacists, therapists, and volunteers.

Source: National Institute on Aging

Palliative care is an unmet, global need: only 14% of patients who need palliative care receive it.

Source: World Health Organization

Hospice care offers better end-of-life outcomes: studies show hospice usage during the last 6 months of life is associated with improved patient and family experience including pain control, increased family satisfaction, decreased ICU visits, and lower mortality rates.

Source: National Library of Medicine

Hospice reduces healthcare costs — especially for Medicare patients: it is estimated Medicare spending for those who received hospice care was $3.5 billion less than it would have been had they not received hospice care.

Source: Alliance for Care at Home

Myth vs. Fact

Myth

Palliative care is only for people that are dying.

Fact

Palliative care is available to anyone with a serious illness at any stage, even if they are receiving treatment.

Source: National Institute on Aging
Myth

You can't stop hospice care once you begin.

Fact

Patients can stop hospice care at any time and resume curative treatments if they choose. Hospice is not a permanent decision.

Source: Medicare.gov
Myth

Hospice and palliative care are only for seniors.

Fact

You can receive hospice and palliative care at any age.

Source: National Alliance for Care at Home
Myth

Hospice care only includes one nurse.

Fact

Hospice provides a care team including nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers to support both the patient and family.

Source: Hospice Foundation of America
Myth

Palliative care is a replacement for life-saving treatments.

Fact

Palliative care works alongside treatments and therapies to help produce a better quality of life.

Source: World Health Organization

Not So Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hospice care and palliative care?

Palliative care is for anyone with a serious illness, at any stage. It focuses on improving quality of life and can be provided alongside curative treatments. Hospice care is a specific type of palliative care for people nearing the end of life who are no longer seeking curative treatment.

Source: National Institute on Aging
When should someone consider palliative care?

Palliative care can be introduced at any stage of a serious illness, not just at the end of life. It's especially helpful for managing symptoms, stress, and side effects from treatment.

Source: Health.com
Can I continue treatment while receiving palliative care?

Yes. Palliative care is designed to work alongside your treatments. Its goal is to help you feel better physically and emotionally while you continue care for your illness.

Source: World Health Organization
Is hospice care only for elderly people?

No. Hospice care is available to individuals of all ages who meet the medical criteria, including children and young adults with serious or terminal illnesses.

Source: National Alliance for Care at Home
Can you leave hospice care if you change your mind?

Yes. Choosing hospice is not a permanent decision. You can leave hospice at any time and return to curative treatment if your condition changes.

Source: Medicare.gov
Who provides hospice care?

Hospice care is delivered by a full care team that may include doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, dietitians, therapists, and volunteers.

Source: National Institute on Aging
How many types of hospice care are there?

There are four levels of hospice care: Routine Home Care, Continuous Home Care, General Inpatient Care, and Inpatient Respite Care. Each level is designed to meet different patient needs.

Source: Medicare.gov
Why is access to hospice and palliative care so important?

Globally, only 14% of people who need palliative care receive it. Increasing access can improve quality of life and support for millions facing serious illness.

Source: World Health Organization
Is hospice care effective?

Yes. Hospice care is proven to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. For example, successful discharge rates from hospice increased from 16.0% in 2020 to 19.0% in 2024.

Source: CMS Hospice Monitoring Report
Research Report
Featured Research

Research Report: Caregivers in Hospice and Palliative Care

Joint research findings from Elea Institute and NPHI

Caregivers fall into 4 categories: proactive problem solvers, balanced embracers, effective coordinators, and devoted givers.
Caregivers do not perceive for-profit vs nonprofit as a decision-making factor in hospice decisions.
Caregivers feel isolated, often experiencing worsening physical and mental health themselves.
Read The Full Report
By offering grants and supporting wide-ranging initiatives, we strive to remove barriers to care, ensuring that compassionate and effective end-of-life care is accessible to all who need it. Kent Mathy — Chairman of the Board

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