There are conversations most families put off until the very last moment. What happens when treatment is no longer aimed at a cure, where we would want to be, and who will help us through this time. And when the conversation does come, it usually comes all at once, in the middle of exhaustion, fear and confusion.
We have gathered general information here about hospice and supportive care in Israel, for family members, caregivers and people who are themselves living with an advanced illness. It does not replace a conversation with the medical team, but it can help you know which questions to ask.
What is hospice?
According to Kol Zchut, the Israeli rights information website, a hospice is a setting that provides palliative care, meaning supportive care, for people in the advanced stages of an illness or nearing the end of their lives. The aim is to allow patients to live with dignity, with an emphasis on quality of life and on relieving symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath and difficulty eating.
Hospice is not only a place, it is also an approach. The multidisciplinary team also works to ease the emotional distress of the patient and of the family, because this time is hard for everyone gathered around the bed.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is care whose goal is relief and a better quality of life, rather than curing the illness. The health funds (kupot holim) run units that provide medical, nursing and rehabilitative care for homebound patients. According to Kol Zchut, the care team includes at least a doctor, a nurse and a social worker, and depending on the patient's condition and the health fund's procedures it can also include a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and other professionals.
Home hospice or inpatient hospice: what is the difference?
- Home hospice: supportive care is given in the patient's home. According to Kol Zchut, a person who wishes to stay at home can receive care through a home hospice.
- Inpatient hospice: a dedicated unit inside a medical institution, where the patient stays and receives care. In Israel such units operate in several hospitals and institutions. The list on the Kol Zchut website includes, for example, Beit Friedman at Sheba Tel HaShomer, the hospice at Hadassah Mount Scopus, the French Hospital St. Louis in Jerusalem, and Dorot in Netanya. Before choosing, it is worth visiting, asking about visiting arrangements and support for the family, and checking whether a place is available.
According to Kol Zchut, a recommendation to move to hospice usually rests on three things: that the treatments meant to cure the illness have been exhausted, that a decision has been made together with the family on care focused on relief alone, and that given the medical and functional condition it is hard to keep living at home. The choice between settings also depends on the patient's wishes and on what the family is able to manage.
Who is home hospice for?
According to Kol Zchut, home hospice is intended for people with illnesses in advanced stages and for people nearing the end of their lives. The conditions it mentions include cancer; end-stage heart, lung, liver or kidney disease; advanced degenerative disease of the nervous system; severe stroke; and states of unconsciousness.
Referral usually comes through the people who know the patient: doctors, nurses and social workers in the hospital or in the community. You can start with a conversation with your family doctor or with the social worker at your health fund, and ask what options exist in your area.
How much does hospice cost?
According to Kol Zchut, moving to hospice does not involve payment, but it depends on receiving a commitment from the health fund. Admission also depends on an assessment by the multidisciplinary team at the facility, and on a place being available. The details can vary between health funds and between settings, so it is worth checking them in advance with the health fund and with the hospice.
How can families prepare for the end of life?
There is no single right way to go through this time. But a few simple steps can make it easier:
- Talk early. Ask the person you love what matters to them: where they want to be, who will be by their side, what they are afraid of.
- Know that decisions can be made in advance. According to Kol Zchut, anyone aged 17 or older may give advance medical directives for the end of their life, or appoint a proxy to give those directives on their behalf. It is worth discussing this with the medical team.
- Ask the team practical questions. What to expect next, what to do at night when something changes, and whom to call.
- Share the load. Decide which family member is responsible for what, and accept help from friends and the community.
- Look after the caregivers too. Family members who provide care over a long period wear out. It is all right to ask for help, and it is all right to rest.
What does the law say about end-of-life decisions?
In Israel the subject is governed by the Dying Patient Law. According to Kol Zchut, a person is entitled to ask not to be given medical treatment to prolong their life, and this wish can be expressed in advance, even while they are healthy. The law prohibits euthanasia and assisted suicide. This is a sensitive and complex subject, so it is worth checking the details with the medical team, on the Ministry of Health website, or with a lawyer.
Questions worth asking the team
- Who is our contact during the day, and who at night and on weekends?
- Which symptoms are expected, and what do we do when they appear?
- What equipment or help at home can we receive?
- Is there support for family members, including after the parting?
And what about the heart? Emotional support for the family
The end of life is not only a medical matter. It holds parting, exhaustion, sometimes guilt, and sometimes moments of closeness that were not there before. Social workers on hospice teams and at the health funds also accompany family members, and you can turn to them with any question.
Everyone in the family goes through this time differently. Some want to be there every moment, and some need to step away now and then in order to keep going. Both are fine. And if there are children or grandchildren in the family, you can consult the social worker about how to talk with them about what is happening, in language that suits their age.
If you feel you are falling apart, do not wait. You can call ERAN, emotional first aid, at 1201. According to Kol Zchut, the line is open around the clock, anonymously and free of charge. We have also written about support and resilience in the community in our article Emotional resilience after October 7.
Hashlama: a home for the end of life
One of the ventures working in this field at Alumot is Hashlama, led by Einat Gottfried. Hashlama is establishing a home for the end of life, for a person with an incurable illness or as part of the process of aging.
The venture describes the reality in Israel today as complex: some of us will find ourselves in a crowded medical institution, on a waiting list for an inpatient hospice, or at home, surrounded by a loving family that is nonetheless exhausted and helpless. According to the venture, Israel lacks a space that allows a parting that is a humane, enveloping and dignified process, and not only a medical procedure.
The venture describes Beit Hashlama as a new model, the first of its kind in Israel: a place where a person is not just another "patient" but a whole being with a life story, and with the right to end their life feeling safe and with dignity, through a process of acceptance (hashlama), for themselves and for their family.
How is Alumot connected to this?
Alumot is the home for social startups. Since 2012, more than 60 ventures have been established within it across the country. Every venture is set up inside the Alumot nonprofit and receives full organizational, financial and legal support, with no need to found a nonprofit of its own, so the entrepreneurs can focus on the people they are working for. Do you have an idea in this field? You can tell us about your venture, and first read how to build a social venture the right way.
Frequently asked questions
What is home hospice?
Home hospice is supportive care given in the patient's home, for people with an advanced illness or nearing the end of life. The aim is to relieve symptoms and preserve quality of life, alongside support for the family.
Does hospice cost money?
According to Kol Zchut, moving to hospice does not involve payment, but it depends on a commitment from the health fund. It is worth checking the details with your health fund.
How do you get into a hospice?
Referral usually comes through doctors, nurses or social workers in the hospital or in the community. Admission depends on an assessment by the team at the facility and on a place being available.
Does moving to hospice mean giving up?
Hospice focuses on quality of life, on relieving pain and on accompanying the patient and the family. The decision about the type of care is made together with the medical team, according to the patient's condition and wishes.
Where can family members get emotional support?
Hospice teams and health funds have social workers who also accompany the family. At any hour you can call ERAN at 1201.
Want to get to know the venture building a home for the end of life? Visit the Hashlama page.
The information in this article is general information, updated for 2026, and does not replace medical or legal advice. For any decision, it is worth consulting the care team.