10 Things Hospice Doesn’t Tell You, Shared by a Cleveland Clinic Doctor
About the expert
Laura Hoeksema, MD, MPH, FAAHPM, serves as the medical director for Cleveland Clinic Hospice and is a staff physician in the department of palliative and supportive care, with a joint role in the center for bioethics. Her mission is to alleviate suffering for patients and their loved ones during life’s final stages. Dr. Hoeksema also leads the interdisciplinary team behind Emerge Stronger, a peer support program designed to assist Cleveland Clinic caregivers affected by unexpected and adverse clinical events.
Highlights
- Hospice is not just for people who are actively dying—it can provide comfort and support for months.
- Families, not just patients, receive emotional and practical support through hospice care.
- Hospice care can take place in various settings, not just at home.
- It’s possible to leave hospice and resume curative treatment if needed.
Hospice care is a compassionate form of end-of-life support that prioritizes comfort over cure. According to the National Institute on Aging, a patient is eligible for hospice when a doctor determines they have six months or less to live if their illness follows its expected course. For patients and their loved ones facing the heartbreaking reality of a terminal illness, hospice offers relief, dignity, and personalized care.
It’s important to understand that choosing hospice is not the same as giving up, emphasizes Laura Hoeksema, MD, medical director of Cleveland Clinic Hospice and board-certified physician in hospice and palliative medicine. Instead, it allows patients to take control of how, where, and with whom they spend their final weeks or months. “Hospice is beneficial when treatment for the disease is no longer effective or becomes too burdensome,” says Dr. Hoeksema.
By exploring their options, hospice patients or their loved one(s) can ensure they receive the type of care that aligns with their wishes. Many hospice providers feel it’s a privilege to support patients and their families during this profoundly challenging time, helping to make each day a little easier.
While many people know that hospice provides pain management and emotional support, some aspects of care may not become fully clear until you or a loved one experience them firsthand. That’s not because hospice is withholding information—rather, the nature of care is deeply personal and can be difficult to grasp until it’s needed.
Ahead, Dr. Hoeksema shares key insights about hospice care and reminds patients and families that the hospice team is always available to answer questions and provide support when things feel uncertain.
What hospice does not tell you, but you should know
1. Hospice isn’t just for people who are actively dying
Many people believe hospice care is only for those in their last days or weeks of life, but it can actually provide support for much longer. “Patients and families benefit the most from hospice when patients receive care from the hospice team for weeks or months,” explains Dr. Hoeksema. This extended care allows patients and their loved ones to build relationships with their care team while receiving ongoing symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and guidance through the end-of-life process.
If a patient surpasses the initial prognosis but still qualifies, they can continue receiving hospice care indefinitely. In some cases, patients even improve with hospice support and may transition out of the program.
2. Families receive support, too
“The hospice team provides an extra layer of support for patients and their families,” says Dr. Hoeksema. Many hospice programs extend their care beyond the patient, offering bereavement counseling, support groups, and respite care to help family caregivers recharge. This kind of emotional and practical support can make all the difference in navigating the challenges of end-of-life care.
