About
Caring for those in need for 42 years
HFA was established by pioneers of the U.S. hospice movement. Now in its fifth decade of public service, its legacy is a testament to the staying power of compassion, expertise, and dedication.
Our Mission
To provide leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care with the goal of enhancing the U.S. healthcare system and the role of hospice within it.
Our Core Values
Hospice is something more when doctors say there’s nothing more they can do.
Hospice offers patient care that alleviates symptoms and opens the door to meaningful moments with family and friends. For some patients, hospice can even extend life.
Everyone deserves the comfort that hospice provides.
We work to ensure that all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, location, disability, income level, or sexual orientation, receive needed care through clinical education and outreach to underserved populations.
Optimal care starts with knowledge.
We improve care at the bedside by educating professional caregivers about timely, relevant topics, and informing patients and families through free one-on-one consultation, programs, and publications.
Bereavement care is essential to humanity’s wellbeing.
We enhance the bereavement support provided to families by certified hospices with professional training, publications, and a grief-focused Facebook page.
We’re here for patients, families, and friends.
Knowing the facts about hospice and grief care is critical. If you’re in need of guidance about end-of-life options or grief, we’re here to answer your questions at no cost through our Ask an Expert service. Funded by generous donations and staffed by a board-certified nurse practitioner and the nation’s foremost grief experts, your question will be answered, in most cases, within 24 hours.
Click below for answers to common questions and for information about grief and grieving. Visit our Journeys with Grief Facebook page here
Educational and community engagement opportunities for hospice clinicians, professionals, and volunteers
Become an HFA member and join thousands of like-minded healthcare and social service professionals who value award-winning programming. Our platform of excellence will sharpen your skills and introduce you to new ideas, theories, and practices through evidence-based training.
Partner with us to involve your community in ground-breaking research, theatre, and engagement around advance care planning to prepare for end-of-life decision making before a crisis occurs. Our publications will help raise awareness of hospice, grief, caregiving, and volunteering.
HFA in numbers
Numbers never tell the whole story, but here’s a snapshot of what we’ve accomplished in the past five years.
21,952
Continuing education hours awarded to end-of-life care professionals nationwide on topics such as ethics, pain management, trauma-informed care, and bereavement.
446
Underserved communities in the U.S. who participated in HFA programs and research focused on improving end-of-life decision making through advance care planning.
45,235
Individuals who receive monthly grief support from our Journeys newsletter, which offers expert advice, validation, and counsel to anyone coping with loss.
95
Ninety-five cents of every dollar donated to HFA goes directly to improving hospice and bereavement care in the U.S. and making it accessible for all.
Recent news and press
