What are the Four Levels of Hospice Care?

Routine Home Care

Routine Home Care is the standard level of hospice care provided to most patients. It allows individuals to remain in a comfortable and familiar setting, typically their home, a family member’s home, or a residential facility, while receiving necessary medical and emotional support.

What It Includes:

• Regular visits from a hospice nurse to monitor symptoms and adjust care plans.

• Hospice aides to assist with personal care, such as bathing and dressing.

• Pain management and symptom control through medications and treatments.

• Emotional and spiritual support from social workers, chaplains, and volunteers.

• Access to 24/7 on-call hospice support for urgent concerns.

Who Qualifies?

Patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness (with a life expectancy of six months or less) and wish to focus on comfort rather than curative treatment. Routine Home Care is ideal for individuals with stable symptoms that can be managed outside of a hospital setting.

This level of care is flexible, meaning patients can receive an increased level of support if their condition worsens or transition to another level of hospice care as needed.

Continuous Home Care (Crisis Care)

Continuous Home Care, also known as Crisis Care, is a short-term, intensive level of hospice care provided at home when a patient experiences a medical crisis. This option is designed to manage severe symptoms that require immediate attention but do not necessarily require hospitalization.

What It Includes:

• Around-the-clock nursing care (minimum of 8 hours in a 24-hour period).

• Increased medication management to control severe pain, breathing difficulties, or agitation.

• Hospice aides providing hands-on care and support for daily needs.

• Coordination with hospice physicians to adjust treatment as needed.

Who Qualifies?

Patients experiencing a sudden or severe decline in their condition, such as:

• Uncontrolled pain that standard medication adjustments cannot manage.

• Persistent nausea or vomiting.

• Severe respiratory distress or difficulty breathing.

• Acute agitation, restlessness, or delirium.

Continuous Home Care is meant to stabilize the patient’s condition so they can return to Routine Home Care. If symptoms cannot be managed effectively at home, the patient may be transitioned to General Inpatient Care.