When you or a loved one begins hospice care, knowing what to expect can bring comfort and peace of mind. At Hospice Care Options, we follow the Medicare-defined four levels of hospice care, each designed to meet patients’ unique needs as they change over time.
Our mission is to provide compassionate hospice care in a setting that feels like home, with dignity, peace, and support from a full interdisciplinary team.
Here’s a closer look at each level of hospice care available through Hospice Care Options in Central Georgia:
1. Routine Home Care
This is the most common level of hospice care. Patients receive regular visits from our hospice team, including nurses, aides, chaplains, and social workers, in the setting they call home. This may be a personal residence, the home of a loved one, a nursing facility, or group home.
Routine home care focuses on comfort, symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support, all provided on a consistent schedule that fits the patient’s needs.
2. Inpatient Care
Sometimes symptoms become too complex to manage at home. In these cases, inpatient hospice care is available in a hospital or other facility, where patients receive 24-hour medical oversight to control pain or other symptoms.
This level of care is often short-term. Once the patient is stable, they may return to their home or previous care setting.
3. Respite Care
Caregiving is a labor of love, but it can also be emotionally and physically exhausting. Respite care offers a short-term break for caregivers. The patient is cared for in a hospital or nursing facility for up to five days, allowing the caregiver to rest, attend to personal needs, or simply recharge.
It’s a vital form of support, not just for the patient, but for the entire family.
4. Continuous Care
In times of crisis or when symptoms suddenly worsen, continuous care may be provided. This involves around-the-clock care, typically in the patient’s home or care setting, until symptoms are under control.
Once stabilized, the patient may return to a previous level of hospice care, such as routine home care.
You Are Not Alone
Every patient’s journey is unique, and our care is tailored to match. No matter which level of care is needed, Hospice Care Options is here to ensure patients and families feel supported, informed, and surrounded by compassion.
📞 (800) 563-8680