The short answer
Care for advanced cancer can be given in many places, including at home, in a clinic, a long-term care facility, or a hospital. Palliative care and hospice can both be provided in different settings. Telling your team what matters most, such as being at home, helps you choose.
Palliative care can be given in the hospital, an outpatient clinic, a long-term care facility, or at home.
Hospice care most often takes place at home, but also in facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Where you receive care is part of your goals of care, and you can tell your team what matters most.
Not all hospices offer the same services, so it helps to ask what each one provides.
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The full explanation.
Care can happen in many places
One of the choices people face with advanced cancer is where to receive care. The good news is that care can be given in many different settings, and the right one depends on your needs and goals.
Where you get care is a personal decision, and it can change over time. Some people want to be at home; others feel more comfortable in a facility with staff nearby. There is no single right answer.
Settings for palliative care
Palliative care, which improves quality of life by easing symptoms, can be provided in several places. You can receive it in the hospital, an outpatient clinic, a long-term care facility, or at home, under the direction of a licensed health care provider.
Anyone can receive palliative care regardless of their age or stage of disease. Because it can be given wherever you are, it can move with you if your needs change.
Settings for hospice care
Hospice care most often takes place at home. But it can also be provided in special inpatient facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes. It can even take place alongside professional home care if necessary.
Hospice services differ depending on where you live and the philosophy of the hospice itself. In general, they include medical and nursing services, medical supplies and equipment, drugs for managing symptoms and pain, short-term inpatient care, volunteers to give caregivers a break, counseling and spiritual care, social work services, and grief support.
Not all hospices provide the same services, and the medicines they cover will vary. It helps to ask each hospice what they offer, to talk with family and friends who have used hospice, and to ask your health care team who they would suggest.
Letting your goals guide the choice
When you have advanced cancer, your health care team wants to know your goals for care and how you would like to move forward. Telling them what is most important to you helps them plan.
For example, your priority might be:
- controlling symptoms and feeling comfortable
- receiving care at home
- being open to experimental treatments
- being well enough for a special event or trip
Good communication is key. When your team understands what you need, they can help match your care setting to your wishes.
Getting support wherever you are
If being at home matters to you, ask what support is available there. Care at home can be arranged, and many insurance plans cover brief home visits from a nurse or a home health aide several times a week. It is wise to check with your insurance company in advance so there are no surprises.
Organizations can also help you find and compare services in your area. Whatever setting you choose, the goal is the same: to keep you as comfortable as possible and to support the quality of life that matters most to you.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸Where can palliative care be given?
You can receive palliative care in the hospital, an outpatient clinic, a long-term care facility, or at home, under the direction of a licensed health care provider. Anyone can receive it regardless of age or stage of disease.
▸Where can hospice care take place?
Hospice care most often takes place at home, but it can also be provided in special inpatient facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes. It can take place alongside professional home care if needed.
▸How do I choose a setting that fits me?
Telling your health care team what is most important to you helps. For example, receiving care at home may be a top priority. Your goals for care guide decisions, and they may change over time.
▸Do all hospices offer the same services?
No. Hospice services differ depending on where you live and the philosophy of the hospice itself. Not all hospices provide the same services, and the medicines they cover will vary, so it helps to ask each one.
▸Can I get care at home even if I need help?
Yes. Care at home can be arranged, and hospice can take place alongside professional home care if necessary. Ask your team about home care services and what support is available where you live.
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