Resources for families
The hospice comfort kit explained
A comfort kit is a small set of medicines the hospice doctor orders in advance so that symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea and noisy breathing can be treated at home quickly, at any hour. Some hospices call it an emergency kit. You use it only when a hospice nurse directs you to, and the nurse tells you exactly what to give and how much.
Reviewed by our medical director, October 12, 2026
On this page (7 sections)
What is a comfort kit?
Symptoms near the end of life often start at night or on a weekend. A comfort kit means the medicine is already in the house when that happens. The hospice doctor writes the orders early, the pharmacy delivers the kit, and the nurse reviews it with you. Nothing in it is used until a nurse tells you to.
The kit is small on purpose. It holds a few days of each medicine in small amounts. If a medicine turns out to be needed regularly, the nurse arranges a regular supply.
Beta's pharmacy partner is ASAP Pharmacy. In-stock items are delivered within two hours of the order.
What is usually in the kit?
Contents vary by person and by the doctor's orders. Doses are not listed here because the nurse sets them for each person.
| Symptom | What the kit usually holds | How it is given |
|---|---|---|
| Pain and shortness of breath | A small amount of a liquid opioid pain medicine, most often morphine | Drops under the tongue or inside the cheek, so it works even when swallowing is hard |
| Anxiety, restlessness or agitation | A calming medicine | Under the tongue or as a tablet |
| Nausea and vomiting | An anti-nausea medicine | Tablet, under the tongue or as a suppository |
| Noisy breathing from secretions | A medicine that dries secretions | Drops under the tongue or a patch |
| Fever or constipation | A fever reducer and a laxative or suppository | By mouth or rectally, depending on what the person can take |
The nurse explains each medicine when the kit arrives. Ask for the explanation again any time. You are not expected to remember it all.
The morphine question
Many families worry when they hear the word morphine. The worry is understandable, and it deserves a straight answer.
In hospice, morphine and similar medicines are used in small doses to relieve pain and shortness of breath. The nurse and doctor start low and adjust the dose to the person's comfort. The goal is comfort, not hastening death. When a person is already in the last hours of life, a dose given for comfort does not cause the death. Dying people often become calmer and breathe more easily once pain and breathlessness are treated, and that calm is sometimes mistaken for the medicine causing the decline.
The National Institute on Aging advises families not to be afraid of giving the pain medicine the doctor prescribes, and to focus on relieving pain. Addiction is not a concern when medicine is used this way at the end of life. If you still feel unsure, say so. The nurse would rather talk it through than have you withhold a medicine the person needs.
How do you store the kit?
- Keep it where the nurse tells you, often the refrigerator or a cool cupboard, and check which items need the refrigerator
- Keep it out of reach of children, visitors and pets
- Keep the written instructions with the kit and the hospice phone number on the box
- Do not move medicines into other containers
- Tell the nurse right away if anything is missing, spilled or past its date
What happens to the medicines after a death?
After a death, the hospice nurse reviews the medicines in the home with you and explains how to dispose of them. Follow the nurse's instructions. In general terms, the safest option is a drug take-back location such as a pharmacy or police station. Some medicines, including most opioids, are on the FDA's flush list and should be flushed if a take-back option is not available, because a single dose can harm a child or pet. Other medicines can go in the household trash mixed with coffee grounds or cat litter in a sealed bag. The FDA page in the sources explains each option.
Do not keep leftover opioids in the house, and do not give them to anyone else.
Common questions
Does the comfort kit mean the end is close?
Not by itself. Many hospices place the kit in the home soon after admission, so it is ready if a symptom starts suddenly. Some people have it in the house for months without using it.
Does the kit cost anything?
Medicare covers hospice care related to the terminal illness. Under Medicare, most people pay nothing for hospice care itself. There can be a copay of up to $5 per prescription for symptom medicines and 5% of the Medicare amount for inpatient respite care. Medicare does not pay room and board where you live. See paying for care.
Can we refuse morphine?
Yes. The person, or their decision maker, can refuse any medicine. Tell the nurse your concerns, and ask what else can be used. The team will work with your wishes.
What if the person cannot swallow?
Most comfort kit medicines come as liquids given under the tongue or inside the cheek, as suppositories or as patches. They work without swallowing. The nurse shows you how.
Can we use the kit for a different symptom than the one the nurse mentioned?
No. Call the nurse for every new symptom. The right medicine and dose depend on what is happening, and the nurse may want to see the person.
More guides
See signs that death is near and what to do when your loved one dies at home. For the first days of care, read what to expect in the first week.
About this page
- Written by
- Beta Hospice care team
- Clinically reviewed by
- our medical director
- Last reviewed
- October 12, 2026
- Next review
- April 12, 2027
How we write and review this site
Sources
- National Institute on Aging: Providing care and comfort at the end of life (opens in a new tab)
- FDA: Disposal of unused medicines, what you should know (opens in a new tab)
- 42 CFR 418.106: Drugs and biologicals, medical supplies and durable medical equipment (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care coverage (opens in a new tab)
These sources support the general information on this page. For one personās care and coverage, talk with the hospice team.
You do not have to decide alone.
Call (844) 646-4434 any time, or leave your number and someone from Beta's hospice team will call you. No decision is needed to call. Most families start with a question.
Only a hospice doctor, together with the personās own doctor, can confirm hospice eligibility. A website cannot.
- A nurse answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- You can stop hospice at any time
- You have the right to choose your hospice