Caring for someone you love at home
Decisions about hospice care often come at a hard time. Before you decide, ask us whatever is on your mind. A first conversation doesn’t commit you to anything.
What happens after you leave a request
Each step is a chance to ask questions. Hospice care begins only if your loved one qualifies and chooses it.
Step 1
You leave a request
We call you back, answer your questions and ask about your loved one.
You’ll learn whether hospice may be a good fit.
Step 2
A nurse visits
A hospice nurse visits your loved one and family to understand their needs.
You’ll know what help is needed and what comes next.
Step 3
Doctor review
The hospice physician and the patient’s own doctor, if they have one, confirm whether the patient is eligible for hospice.
Once the patient agrees, hospice care can begin.
Step 4
Your care plan
We make a plan with your loved one and family: visits, medications, equipment and who to call.
You’ll know who is coming and when.
Before we talk
You don’t need to prepare anything. If it’s easy to find, it helps to have:
- Your loved one’s name and where they’re staying right now
- Your name and the easiest way to reach you
- The name of their doctor, or of the hospital or care facility treating them
- Their insurance, such as Medicare or Medi-Cal, if you’d like to talk about coverage
When we call you back, we’ll ask only for what we need. There’s nothing to send us ahead of time.
Support for you and your family
Hospice care supports the people who care for your loved one, too.
Guidance for family caregivers
We show you how to care for your loved one at home and answer questions from everyone who helps day to day.
A care plan you can follow
The plan shows who visits, what each medication is for and who to call with a question.
Help with personal care
A hospice aide helps with bathing, dressing, grooming and other personal care that’s part of the care plan.
Emotional, social and spiritual support
A social worker helps with worries, practical questions and paperwork. A chaplain offers spiritual support that respects the patient’s beliefs, whatever they are.
Medications, equipment and supplies
Medications for pain and symptom relief, medical equipment such as a hospital bed, and care supplies. Hospice may cover them when they relate to the patient’s main illness and are part of the care plan.
Support after a loss
For up to a year after a loss, your family can turn to us for support and someone to talk to.
When we talk, ask us what this support includes.
Questions families often ask
Does choosing hospice mean giving up?
No. Hospice care shifts the focus from a cure to comfort and quality of life. The patient can stop hospice care at any time and go back to treatment for their illness.
Can we change our mind about hospice care?
Yes. The patient can stop hospice care at any time and go back to treatment for their illness. If they’re eligible later, they can choose hospice care again.
Can my loved one keep their own doctor?
Yes, if your loved one chooses that doctor as their attending doctor for hospice care. We then work with that doctor and keep them up to date.
How often will someone from the team visit?
It depends on your loved one’s needs. The care plan sets how often each person on the team visits. When those needs change, so does the plan.
Do we need a doctor’s referral to contact you?
No. You can contact us yourself. We’ll answer your questions and explain how hospice care can begin.
This is general information. It doesn’t replace a doctor’s advice.
If this is a medical emergency, call 911.
Not sure what to do next? Leave a request.
We’ll answer your questions and help you think through your options.
You can leave a request any time, day or night.
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