- LoveWell Care Guide
Where Hospice Care Is Provided
Hospice is a model of care, not a single building. Many people receive hospice where they already live, surrounded by familiar people and routines.
The care setting affects coordination, staffing, and expenses, so it is worth asking how hospice will work in your particular situation.
Hospice in a Private Home
Hospice may provide visits and services in a private residence. Family members or other caregivers usually continue to provide much of the daily support between visits.
Ask what equipment may be needed, how medications will be coordinated, and what the caregiver should do if symptoms change.
Hospice in Assisted Living
A person living in an assisted living community can still receive hospice services. The hospice team works closely with facility staff to coordinate care, while assisted living costs and hospice benefits remain separate.
Hospice in Memory Care
Residents living with dementia may receive hospice services in a memory care community if they meet eligibility requirements. The hospice and facility teams coordinate around comfort, communication, swallowing concerns, and caregiver needs.
Hospice in a Skilled Nursing or Nursing Facility
Hospice may be provided to an eligible resident of a nursing facility. Facility staff and hospice staff have different roles, and families should understand who provides what.
Room and board and the hospice benefit may be billed or covered differently depending on the person’s circumstances.
What About Inpatient Hospice Care?
Certain hospice levels of care may be provided in an inpatient setting when medically necessary and available under the applicable arrangements. Inpatient hospice is not automatically a permanent residential placement.
How to Choose the Right Setting
Consider where the person wishes to be, safety, caregiver availability, symptom needs, and financial considerations. Ask the clinical team what is realistic for the person’s condition.
Service Area
LoveWelL provides care throughout our North Texas service area:
- Collin
- Cooke
- Dallas
- Denton
- Fannin
- Grayson
- Hunt
- Kaufman
- Rockwall
- Tarrant
- Wise
Hospice at Home Does Not Mean Continuous Bedside Staffing
At-home hospice commonly involves scheduled team visits and support under the care plan. Family members or other caregivers typically provide much of the day-to-day care between visits. Ask the hospice to explain what it provides, what the family is responsible for, and what support options may be available.
How Hospice Works Alongside a Facility
When a patient lives in assisted living, memory care, or a nursing facility, the hospice and facility have different responsibilities. Ask who handles daily personal care, medication administration, after-hours communication, and changes in condition.
Understanding Levels of Hospice Care
Medicare recognizes several levels of hospice care, including routine home care, continuous home care for qualifying crises, general inpatient care for symptoms that cannot be managed in another setting, and inpatient respite care when appropriate. Each level has specific requirements and is not automatically available on request.
Choosing the Setting
Consider the patient’s preferences, safety, available caregivers, accessibility, equipment needs, and the level of support required. A care team can help discuss whether the current setting can meet those needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Many patients receive hospice where they already live.
Yes, eligible residents may receive hospice services in assisted living, with coordination between teams.
Ordinary room and board is generally separate from Medicare hospice coverage.
The hospice team can assess the need for a different level of care or setting under applicable requirements.
Part of the LoveWell Family
You Don't Have to Know When the Time Is Right
If you are caring for someone with a serious illness and are wondering what support may be appropriate, you do not need to have all the answers before starting a conversation. LoveWell Hospice can help you understand hospice, the evaluation process, and possible next steps.
Ask questions about hospice care or discuss whether an evaluation may be appropriate. A conversation does not obligate you to enroll.