Your palliative care provider may talk to you about hospice care. But just because he or she is talking to you about hospice does not mean that you are dying right away. In many cases, doctors do not really know how long you will live.

Palliative care providers believe in living well and dying well. The more you know about your options, the better the rest of your life can be. Getting on hospice early may mean that you get more out of it. Many people and families who receive hospice care wish they had started on hospice sooner.

Hospice provides palliative care. It focuses on improving your quality of life—not just in your body, but in your mind and spirit. It provides care and support for you and your loved ones when nothing can be done to cure your illness. Most of the time, hospice care is given in your home. But it can also be given in hospice centers, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or hospitals.