The goals of palliative care are to prevent, relieve, reduce, or soothe the symptoms of diseases or disorders. Palliative care focuses on managing symptoms, providing comfort, helping the patient complete "life business," healing relationships, and helping the family and friends who are grieving. Hospice care provides palliative and supporting care for terminally ill people and their families at the end of life. The following are questions you can ask your health care provider when you are considering hospice care.

1. What is Palliative and Hospice Care? What are the differences?
2. Who will pay for Palliative and Hospice Care?
3. Who will be my doctor?
4. What is the difference between my doctor’s care and Hospice care?
5. Will Hospice take care of my pain and other symptoms?
6. Will Hospice help the family to deal with their loved one’s illness and loss?
7. How can I make sure my family knows and abides by my wishes?
8. Where does Hospice care take place? At home? In a Nursing Home?
9. Will Hospice staff honor my cultural and religious beliefs?
10. Is it time for me to start talking about dying?
11. How can I be sure I will die at home?
12. How can I begin to understand my diagnosis?  It is too complicated.
13. What can I do to avoid being in pain?  I have heard about becoming addicted to pain drugs.
14. My wife also has dementia.  Does she still need pain drugs?
15. Are there any side effects from pain medications?