Hospice is a patient-centered approach to improve the quality of life and provide compassionate support for patients and families. Hospice care is focused on maintaining dignity and providing comfort, including pain and symptom management at the end of life when a cure is no longer possible. Also called palliative care, hospice involves the aggressive treatment of physical and emotional pain and symptoms. Hospice affirms life, improves comfort, and does not hasten or postpone death.