How to Prepare a Home for Hospice - An Expert Guide In 2025!

If someone you love is moving to hospice or end-of-life care at home, you're likely juggling grief, logistics and practical decisions all at once. Getting the home ready doesn't need to be complicated, but a little planning makes things safer and calmer for everyone.

What does hospice care at home involve in the UK?

In the UK, "hospice care" usually means specialist palliative care focused on comfort rather than cure, for people with a terminal illness. It can be delivered in a hospice building, in hospital, or at home — often through NHS district nursing teams working alongside a local hospice, GP and, in many areas, Marie Curie or Macmillan nurses.

Many people prefer to be cared for at home, surrounded by family and familiar things. Home hospice care can include pain and symptom management, personal care, equipment, and emotional support for both the patient and the family. The NHS social care and support guide explains how end-of-life care is organised and who to contact to start it.

How do you prepare a home for hospice care?

Ask the hospice or palliative care team for a home assessment before you make changes. An occupational therapist or district nurse can advise on layout, equipment and safety, and may arrange some equipment on loan through the NHS or local authority. Preparation generally falls into two areas: making the space workable for carers, and making it comfortable for the person receiving care.

Make the home safe and accessible

• Clear walkways of rugs, cables and clutter so the patient and carers can move safely, with a wheelchair or walking frame if needed.
• Fit grab rails in the bathroom and near the bed if mobility is limited — a district nurse or OT can advise on where.
• Check the bathroom for hazards. A shower chair, raised toilet seat or commode may be needed if stairs or standing are difficult.
• Think about lighting for night-time visits from carers, and a clear path from the bed to the bathroom.
• Keep a folder of medication, care plans and emergency contacts somewhere carers can find it quickly.

Decide where the bed will go

If the person will spend most of their time in bed, think carefully about where it goes. A hospital-style bed — with an adjustable head and foot, side rails and often a pressure-relieving mattress — is easier and safer for carers, and can usually be delivered and set up through the NHS or hospice equipment service. Consider:

• Whether the room is on the ground floor, or if a bed will need to be moved downstairs.
• Space for carers and equipment to move around three sides of the bed.
• Whether the person can still see a window, hear family, or feel part of the household from that spot.
• How the person feels about giving up their own bed — this can be a difficult conversation, so involve them in the decision where possible.

How do you make the home comfortable, not just clinical?

Equipment matters, but so does the feel of the room. Hospice care aims to keep life as normal and comforting as possible, not to turn the home into a ward.

Lighting, sound and temperature

Some people find the normal noise of a household — doors, television, family coming and going — reassuring. Others want quiet. Ask the person what they'd prefer, and check in as things change. Good curtains or blinds help control light for someone spending long periods in bed, particularly if day and night become blurred. People on certain medications can be more sensitive to temperature, so keep a fan or heater within reach.

Familiar things

A favourite chair, a blanket, family photos, particular music, or a well-loved snack (if the person's diet allows) can do more for comfort than any piece of equipment. If the person is confined to bed, a comfortable chair nearby still lets them sit up for visits or meals when they're able to.

Hospice at home versus other settings

What support and funding is available?

End-of-life care at home can be supported financially and practically:

• NHS Continuing Healthcare (fast-track): people nearing the end of life can be assessed quickly for NHS-funded care, which can cover nursing visits, equipment and sometimes care costs. Ask the GP, hospital team or hospice to start this.
• Attendance Allowance: under the special rules for terminal illness, claims are fast-tracked and there's no need to wait six months. See GOV.UK — Attendance Allowance.
• Care needs assessment: the local authority can assess what help and equipment the person and their carer need. Start this via GOV.UK — apply for a care needs assessment.
• Lasting power of attorney: if this isn't already in place, set it up as early as possible so a trusted person can make health and financial decisions if the patient loses capacity. Details at GOV.UK — lasting power of attorney.
• Support for carers: looking after someone at the end of life is exhausting. Carers UK and Age UK both offer practical and emotional support, including advice on respite care.

For general guidance on organising care and support, the NHS social care and support guide is a good starting point.