Hospice is a service in which a person receives care at the end stage of their life.  Hospice is frequently provided for patients in which no further treatment is possible, or in which all treatment methods have been exhausted.

The doctors and nurses that work with hospice patients are specifically trained to provide end of life care.  They are experts in their field, and work in hospitals, residential nursing homes, or facilities specifically designated for hospice treatment.  At home hospice care is the most common type of hospice, and many patients with cancer choose this option over extended hospital stays. 

In hospice treatment, opioid pain relief may be provided in order to allow the patient to be comfortable.  A hospice care nurse can make home visits to administer this type of treatment in an injection or IV.  The decision to pursue hospice care is one that should be made with the consultation of doctors, social workers, and home health aides.