Comforting Hospice Care

 When curative cancer treatments are no longer effective, patients may turn to hospice care for comfort and support during the final stages of life. Elation Hospice & Palliative Care provides specialized, compassionate care tailored to the unique needs of cancer patients—focusing on symptom relief, emotional support, and preserving quality of life in the days, weeks, or months ahead. 

While many families wait to discuss hospice until cancer treatments have stopped, having the conversation earlier—during active treatment—can help everyone prepare emotionally and practically for what may come.

It’s important to remember that hospice isn’t a place—it’s a philosophy of care focused on improving quality of life for those with advanced cancer.

Signs it may be time to consider hospice include:

• Cancer has progressed, and treatment is no longer effective
   
• The patient chooses to stop treatment
   
• Care needs have become overwhelming for family members
   

Elation Hospice & Palliative Care is here to guide families through these decisions with compassion, clarity, and support.

The main eligibility requirement for hospice care is a life expectancy of six months or less. For cancer patients, hospice is typically recommended when curative treatment has ended, and the patient needs regular assistance with daily activities due to declining health.

Elation Hospice & Palliative Care supports patients with a variety of cancer diagnoses—including lung, breast, and prostate cancer—and can also address symptoms related to other serious illnesses that may occur alongside cancer. Care plans are tailored to manage both physical and emotional needs.

Clinical tools like the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) or ECOG scale help physicians determine hospice eligibility. Families can also initiate hospice discussions based on noticeable symptoms or changes in a loved one’s condition.

Signs a cancer patient may be ready for hospice care include:

• Being mostly bedbound or confined to one room
   
• Noticeable cancer-related symptoms
   
• Inability to perform basic self-care tasks
   
• Reduced appetite or difficulty eating
   
• Needing help with everyday activities like cooking or cleaning
   

Patients who continue treatment but require support may benefit from palliative care, which focuses on improving quality of life. Elation Hospice & Palliative Care offers palliative care services that include daily assistance, symptom management, and collaboration with the cancer care team—even for those participating in clinical trials.

Hospice and palliative care services are provided wherever the patient lives—whether that's their own home, a family member’s home, an assisted living facility, or in some cases, a nursing home or medical facility during a temporary stay. One of the key goals of hospice care is to ensure comfort and peace during the final stage of life, often by helping patients remain in a familiar and supportive environment.

Care team members visit regularly, with different professionals—such as nurses, aides, social workers, or chaplains—scheduling visits based on the patient’s needs throughout the week.

Family caregivers collaborate closely with the patient’s doctors and hospice team to ensure compassionate, coordinated care. When a patient is admitted to hospice, a hospice physician conducts an initial evaluation and creates a personalized care plan tailored to the patient’s needs and goals.

The hospice care team typically includes a nurse, social worker, home health aide, physical or occupational therapists, spiritual care providers, and trained volunteers—each playing a vital role in supporting the patient’s comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

A trusted hospice and palliative care provider partners closely with the patient’s oncologist and primary care physician to create a comprehensive, individualized care plan during advanced cancer treatment. Hospice services are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans.

Choosing hospice after an advanced cancer diagnosis offers many benefits, including expert symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and the ability to focus on comfort and quality of life in a familiar setting.

 From caregiver education to medical monitoring, hospice teams provide the expert support families need to effectively care for a cancer patient at home.

 Patients in hospice care have a better quality of life because basic needs are met and stress is reduced. Hospice patients also have a reduced rate of rehospitalization because pain and other symptoms are managed at home. 

 Families of patients in hospice can feel confident that their loved one is being cared for even when they aren’t present. One-on-one support and 24-hour access to services ensures consistent care.