Smiling home care nurse taking older patient's blood pressure

Hospice Care

Focusing on the patient’s goals of care and quality of life

Hospice Care

Hospice care is a benefit which includes expert, compassionate individualized care which focuses on personal goals and optimizes quality of life for people facing life-limiting illness.

Download our brochure in English or Spanish.

We care where you are.

Care is delivered wherever you or your loved one calls home. This could be at home, or an assisted living facilities or a group home. Our comprehensive hospice services team includes:

Physicians
Nursing care
Nursing aides
Medical social work services
Chaplain
Spiritual counseling
Volunteers
Medications
Medical equipment and supplies
Bereavement support

Meet the Hospice Care Team.

My dad was put on hospice recently after a two-year battle with prostate cancer. His oncologist recommended Elara Caring, and we had the most amazing experience. I highly recommend Elara Caring to anyone having to go through this tough situation.

Former Hospice Family Member

My sisters and I will be eternally grateful for the support and friendship we immediately felt from everyone who wore the Elara badge. You are all truly Angels on earth and we feel fortunate to have known you!

Former Hospice Family Member

Please know your work is truly appreciated! I hope you sleep well at night, knowing you have made a huge difference for the better with everyone you meet.

Former Hospice Family Member

Hospice Care Programs

Our proprietary programs are designed to provide a plan of customized care for a variety of diagnoses and needs. Programs vary by location. Check with your local Elara Caring representative for details.

The difference between Hospice Care and Palliative Care.

While hospice care and palliative care have some benefits in common, there are significant differences, which the comparison below explains.

Do I qualify?

A patient eligible for hospice when:

The hospice medical director or hospice physician in collaboration with the patient’s attending physician, if any, determine if the patient is eligible based on a prognosis of six months or less if the disease runs its normal course.
The patient has chosen a palliative approach to treatment rather than a curative approach.
The patient or family elects the hospice benefit.

How will I pay?

The cost of hospice services is covered by most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid, at 100%. Contact us for more information.

Learn more about the Medicare hospice benefit.

Find out more about how Elara Caring can help.

Volunteer and make a difference.

Offer support to patients and their caregivers through visits
Record patient memories and stories for the patient’s family
Support veterans in hospice care
Offer non-direct support in other patient care avenues

Volunteer Now

The goal of the Elara Caring Hospice foundation is to provide an added level of comfort and support to hospice patients and their families. While the foundation works closely with Elara Caring to identify those in need of assistance, it does help patients served by any hospice organization.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the patient improves or lives longer than six months?

Everyone has a right to choose their healthcare options. If a patient wants to stop the hospice benefit for any reason, they can. Also with the increased care of a hospice team of providers, sometimes patients improve. If a physician believes the patient will live beyond six months, hospice can be discontinued. If or when the patient’s condition begins to deteriorate, the doctor can reassess, and the patient may become eligible once again.

How often is the patient seen by the clinical team?

The simple answer is as often as needed. The frequency of visits is based on the patient’s individual care plan and will increase or decrease depending upon the patient’s needs.

What if the patient has an emergency in the middle of the night or on the weekend?

Elara Caring is a Medicare-certified hospice provider and is fully staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year—including weekends and holidays. Patients and caregivers are encouraged to call any time and will be connected with the appropriate staff person based on the need. A nurse will visit to address a patient’s changing needs even if the visit is outside of the scheduled care plan.

What is the difference between hospice services and palliative care?

Hospice is a program of care and support for individuals when a cure is no longer likely or the patient has chosen not to pursue aggressive curative treatment. The focus is on the patient’s quality of life and comfort. Hospice care is for the patient as well as the family and caregivers. Palliative care is a medical specialty focused on the needs of people who are living with serious, often life-threatening illness. The focus is on treating uncontrollable symptoms.

What are the signs that it is time for hospice care?

Following are some of the signs that it may be time for the added benefits of hospice:

Hospitalizations over the last year
Recent weight loss over the last six months
Difficulty swallowing
Needing more assistance with activities of daily living
Increased or new onset of incontinence
Decreased stamina
Increased edema
Increased shortness of breath
Decreased ability to communicate
Increased disorientation or confusion
Withdrawal from family and friends
Decreased appetite
Infections, such as UTI or respiratory
New wounds or wounds that do not heal

View more FAQs

Are you a physician or facility?

If you have a patient that could benefit from Elara Caring’s Hospice services, we can assess eligibility and provide a comprehensive, holistic program of care and support.

Refer a Patient