Plan for Dying at Home

Make the plan before there's a crisis.

You're not alone if the idea of dying at home feels important to you. Most people say they would prefer to spend their final days in familiar surroundings, close to the people, pets, and comforts they love.

The good news is that more people are dying at home than ever before. The challenge is that it rarely happens by accident. Dying at home often requires planning, conversations, and support well before a crisis occurs.

If you have a serious illness and a physician believes you may be in the last months of life, hospice care can provide the medical, emotional, and practical support needed to remain at home. Because enrollment takes time, it's worth learning about hospice options before they're urgently needed.

One of the most important questions to discuss with your loved ones is simple: If given the choice, where would I want to spend my final days? Knowing the answer can help families make decisions with confidence when the time comes.

The biggest predictor of whether someone dies at home isn't luck—it's planning. Sharing your wishes, choosing the right decision-makers, and discussing care options ahead of time can make it far more likely that your final days unfold where you most want to be.