national hospice and palliative care month

November is all about Hospice and Palliative Care

Hospice and palliative care programs nationwide are reaching out to raise awareness! The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) theme this year is “We See the Whole You.” We support this theme and are proud to make our patients and their families as physically, spiritually, and emotionally comfortable as possible.

What Is Hospice and Palliative Care?

Hospice and palliative care have both existed for decades. Although they can be offered to the same patient at once, it’s essential to understand that they are two distinct care modalities.

Today, approximately 1.72 million Medicare beneficiaries receive hospice services for one day or more in a year, reflecting broad access to comfort-focused care nationwide. Hospice programs share a key objective: to improve the quality of life for each patient in their care.

What is the philosophy behind hospice care?

Hospice is a philosophy for end-of-life care rather than a specific practice or place. For patients who no longer pursue curative treatment and want to spend their final days at peace and in comfort, hospice should provide patients and their caregivers with as much support as possible.

Hospice ensures that patients can live their lives as they wish, where they choose, and with whom they desire.

Understanding Palliative Care

Like hospice care, palliative care focuses on the person behind the illness rather than solely on the illness itself, and on the quality of life for individuals with severe, life-altering diseases.

The difference is that, unlike hospice care, it can help anyone with a significantly debilitating illness regardless of prognosis. Patients can even receive palliative care while undergoing other ongoing treatments.

“Palliative care offers comfort, pain relief, and symptom management for patients with serious illnesses… Anyone with a serious illness, chronic, or life-threatening disease, regardless of age or stage of illness, can receive palliative care… Nowadays, palliative care is increasingly being chosen by patients while they’re pursuing curative care options.” – Kathleen Lynch, RN, Administrator of Admitting, Intake & Outreach Services, Calvary Hospital

Hospice and Palliative Care Make a Difference

There are many ways hospice and palliative programs help people:

Relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, or anxiety.
Emotional and spiritual support that brings peace and meaning.
Guidance for loved ones through complex decisions.
24/7 access to clinical and pastoral care.
Bereavement services and ongoing family support.

At Calvary, these elements work together in a continuum of compassion that meets patients wherever they are on their journey.

A Historical Look at Palliative and Hospice Care

Mid-1800s
The word “hospice” first began to be used in the mid-1800s to describe caring for dying patients by Jeanne Garnier, Founder of the Dames du Calvaire in Lyon, France.

1899
A small group of widows in New York, inspired by the work of the Women of Calvary (Dames de Calvaire), who cared for destitute women in France with terminal diseases, decided to do the same in New York City. They took care of the women first in their own homes, then in two brownstone houses on Perry Street in Greenwich Village.

1950s – 1960s
Dame Cicely Saunders, a British nurse, social worker, and physician, introduced the concept of total pain — the idea that suffering is physical, emotional, social, and spiritual — and founded St. Christopher’s Hospice in 1967. Her vision established the interdisciplinary team model that remains the cornerstone of palliative care today.

1974
The first U.S. hospice, Connecticut Hospice in Branford, opened its doors under the leadership of Florence Wald, a former professor at the Yale School of Nursing.

1982 – 1986
The U.S. Congress passed the Medicare Hospice Benefit, first as a demonstration project (1982) and later made permanent (1986). For the first time, hospice became a covered benefit for Americans, ushering in national growth and standardization of care.

1990s
The Patient Self-Determination Act (1990) affirmed the right of every patient to make informed choices about their medical care and advance directives — further embedding patient autonomy and dignity into U.S. healthcare.

2000s
Hospice and palliative care entered the era of evidence-based medicine. Research has proven that early palliative care improves both the quality of life and patient satisfaction, and in some studies, it has even been shown to extend life. Hospitals across the country began forming dedicated palliative care teams, integrating comfort-focused support with curative treatment.

2010s – 2020s
Palliative care programs expanded dramatically across hospital and community settings. Technology has begun transforming care coordination through electronic health record alerts, telehealth symptom management, and predictive analytics, enabling clinicians to identify patients earlier in their disease course. Policymakers are increasingly recognizing hospice and palliative care as essential to quality healthcare and value-based medicine.

2024 – 2025
Today, more than half of all Americans who die each year receive hospice or palliative care support. The focus has shifted to personalized, home-based, and inclusive care, reflecting the 2025 National Hospice and Palliative Care Month theme: “We See the Whole You.” This theme emphasizes recognizing the patient as a complete person — body, mind, and spirit — and honoring what matters most to them and their families.

Frequently Asked Questions about Palliative and Hospice Care

“Although much has been written about Palliative and Hospice Care, there is ongoing confusion in the medical community and the general public about how to define each of those terms and when to bring that care into a person’s life.” – Kathleen Lynch, RN, Administrator of Admitting, Intake & Outreach Services, Calvary Hospital

Q: What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice?
A: Palliative care can begin at any time in a serious illness—even while curative treatments continue. Hospice is an end-of-life program for people typically expected to live six months or less when the focus shifts fully to comfort. Both prioritize symptom relief and support for families.

Q: When should we ask about palliative care?
A: Earlier is better. Families often tell us they wish they’d called sooner. Early involvement allows us to manage symptoms effectively, support caregivers, and help patients maintain control over their choices. These services aren’t just for the final days—they’re for living well every day.

Q: Can palliative care be provided at the same time as chemotherapy, dialysis, or surgery?
A: Yes. That’s a core principle of modern palliative care—it can be provided alongside curative therapy to improve comfort and quality of life.

Q: Does earlier palliative care really make a difference?
A: Yes. In landmark research, patients with advanced lung cancer who received early palliative care had better quality of life and mood and, on average, lived longer than those receiving standard care alone.

Q: Will insurance cover palliative or hospice care?
A: Coverage varies by plan. Medicare covers hospice broadly; many commercial plans cover palliative care services. National patient resources recommend consulting your clinician team and insurer to inquire about benefits and referrals.

Q: How does Calvary put patients and families first?
A: CalvaryCare® integrates medical management with emotional, spiritual, and practical support across settings — home, nursing facilities, assisted living, and our inpatient programs. Families are an integral part of the team, receiving teaching, 24/7 support, and bereavement care.

“Thirty years ago, people heard ‘palliative’ and assumed there was nothing left to do. Fortunately, that concept has matured. Today, palliative care is about improving comfort and supporting decisions at any point in life.” – Kathleen Lynch, RN, Administrator of Admitting, Intake & Outreach Services, Calvary Hospital

“The idea of ‘healthy dying’ sounds like a contradiction, but it’s not. If we lived in a society that embeds palliative care throughout the life course, we would be enveloped with love, compassion, and tender care in all our years, right through to the final moment.” – Dr. Lawrence Gostin, Professor, Georgetown University, Global Public Health Expert

Explore Calvary’s Hospice and Palliative Care Resources

Calvary Hospital provides a variety of educational tools and guides to help patients and families understand care options, plan ahead, and make informed, compassionate choices. Whether you’re seeking guidance for yourself or a loved one, these trusted resources will help you navigate care with confidence.

Hospice & Palliative Care Resources
Explore articles, tools, and expert guidance on hospice and palliative care — including eligibility, care settings, and how to access CalvaryCare® services.

Why Advance Care Planning Matters
Learn how to begin important conversations with loved ones and document your wishes for future care.

These resources are designed to support meaningful decision-making and empower families to focus on what truly matters — quality of life and peace of mind.

Related Resources

Advance Care Planning
Ongoing discussions about your health care goals, values, and wishes for the future.

Understanding Hospice FAQs
Insights from Calvary experts on compassionate end-of-life care.

What Is Palliative Care?
Learn how palliative care supports patients and families throughout every stage of illness.

Hospice vs. Palliative Care – Key Differences and Similarities
Hospice and palliative care share the common goal of providing comfort and support to individuals facing serious illness.