Levels of Care in Hospice

4 levels of Care

Patients may be admitted to any level of care depending on their need. Patients can also transfer from one level to another. These are determined by the hospice team.

Routine Care

Care is provided regularly or routinely. Patient is visited by Hospice team members many times in a week depending on the patient's need.

Inpatient Care

​Care is provided at a contracted facility for patients who require pain control, acute/chronic symptom management. The necessity of inpatient care, and paid length of stay for inpatient care, are determined by the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team. If a Hospice patient requires hospitalization for any reason unrelated to the terminal diagnosis, Medicare Part A will be utilized.

Respite Care

Under the direction of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team, up to five days of respite care at a contracted skilled nursing facility will be paid by Hospice. This benefit may be used to provide the family or caregiver a rest. The patient does not need to meet acute care standards in order to participate in respite care.

Continuous Home Care

Care is provided only during periods of crisis, in order to maintain the patient at home. Criteria for continuous home care are the same as inpatient care. Hospice staff will provide a minimum of eight hours of care per calendar day. Once the patient's symptom is managed and/or the family or primary caregiver  knows how to managed the patient's symptoms with the help of the hospice team, then this Intensive care is discontinued.