Hospice is for people whose death is hours or a few days away.

Families often express that they wished their loved one had received hospice care much earlier in their illness. Hospice care can be accessed up to six months before an expected death, giving patients time with family, friends, and pets, and the possibility of extended support from the hospice interdisciplinary team. Although hospice care neither hastens death nor prolongs life, studies show that patients with certain illnesses live somewhat longer with hospice care than those without it.