When parents or adult children hear the word hospice, many assume it means the very end of life – final days filled with goodbyes. But hospice care is not about giving up or counting down the last moments. It’s about changing the focus of care.
In some cases, a person’s illness no longer responds to treatments intended to cure it. At that point, families often face a difficult choice: continue aggressive medical care that may bring more discomfort, or shift the focus to comfort, quality of life, and emotional support. Hospice offers that second path.
Doctors emphasize that hospice does not mean “tomorrow,” and it is not limited to the final days of life. Instead, hospice is designed for a specific stage of care—often for individuals who may have six months or less if an illness follows its natural course. Many patients, however, receive hospice care for longer periods of time.
Another common misconception is that hospice is a single place. In reality, hospice is an approach to care, and it can look very different depending on a person’s needs.
Some people receive hospice care in their own homes. Others receive care in nursing homes, assisted living communities, hospitals, or dedicated hospice centers. While the setting may change as needs change, the goal remains the same: comfort, dignity, and support.
Hospice care brings together an interdisciplinary team that may include doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, and trained volunteers. This team supports not only the patient, but also their family – working together to address medical needs, emotional well-being, and spiritual concerns.
“This is your team,” explained Rashanda Jackson, Hospice Director at McGregor. “Hospice of Greater Cleveland isn’t about stopping care,” said Jackson, it is about changing the goal of care – from curing illness to caring for the whole person – wherever a person calls home, in skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, or within the broader community. Hospice doesn’t disappear when things change – it adapts as circumstances evolve.”
Services often include regular nurse visits, access to support 24 hours a day through on-call phone consultation, and social worker visits to help families navigate emotions, caregiving stress, and practical concerns such as insurance coverage. Hospice care is frequently covered by Medicare and many other insurance plans.
Established in 2024, Hospice of Greater Cleveland was formed through a joint venture combining the long-standing hospice programs of Judson Senior Living and McGregor Senior Living. Together, they aim to better serve Northeast Ohio by offering comprehensive end-of-life care, bereavement services, and palliative support across a wide range of care settings.
#HospiceGreaterCleveland #HospiceCare
submitted Christine Somosi, communication specialist
