Levels of Hospice Care
There are four levels of hospice care.
Depending on the level of care needed, you may be required to be transferred to an alternate care setting. Your level of care will depend on your needs and may change throughout your treatment.
Routine Home Care—This care is provided in the comfort of your home, whether a private residence, assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility. An RN Case Manager will oversee your care, closely collaborating with your entire hospice team, including your Hospice Physician, Social Worker, Spiritual Care Provider, and Home Health Aide. If you
are interested, you will also have access to a Volunteer, Bereavement Therapist, and Creative Arts Therapist.
General Inpatient Care—General Inpatient level of care is for short-term acute episodes. It is initiated when other efforts to manage symptoms at home are ineffective. This level of care is provided in a hospice inpatient unit or skilled nursing facility. You will be closely monitored by an RN Case Manager who will work in consultation with your Hospice Physician to ensure that you continue to meet the criteria for this level of care. Once your condition is stabilized, you will be
expected to return to your residence.
Continuous Care (a.k.a Crisis Care)—This level of care is time-limited and offered only during a symptom crisis. Skilled nursing care is provided in your residence for at least 8 hours daily and may be provided for up to 24 hours to treat your uncontrolled symptoms. Your RN Case Manager, with the support of your Hospice Physician, will evaluate your status. Nursing support will continue until your active symptoms are managed and stabilized. As determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulation, we can only provide this level of care as an ongoing service if you are experiencing uncontrolled symptoms.
Respite Care—This short-term care temporarily relieves the patient’s primary caregiver. It is provided in a skilled nursing facility for up to five days during each hospice certification period. It is recommended when your caregiver cannot provide care for travel, illness or caregiver fatigue. Our clinicians will provide you with a list of skilled nursing
facilities we work with for this service.
We are also here to support family caregivers with valuable resources and information. For information on caring for a loved one with an advanced illness, visit our caregiver resources section.
