Manages the patient’s pain and symptoms; assists the patient with the emotional and psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying; provides needed drugs, medical supplies, and equipment; coaches the family on how to care for the patient; delivers special services like speech and physical therapy when needed; makes short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, or the caregiver needs respite time; and provides bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends.

Care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations.