Hospice care is care that is focused on quality of life and symptom management. Hospice care is designed to minimize suffering and support the patient and family in the home, nursing home, hospital, or inpatient hospice setting. Sometimes, treatment options are not available for certain illnesses and/or patients decide that it’s more important to feel as well as possible and to enjoy as much time with friends and family as possible, rather than engage in aggressive treatments and therapies. In general, hospice care is appropriate for patients whose life expectancy could be estimated in weeks or months, versus years. Hospice care is not meant to care for only patients who are in the active dying phase and can be a very effective support system for patients and families who are living with the burdens of advanced illness.