Hospice levels of care
All Medicare-certified hospices are required to offer 4 levels of hospice care depending on patient and caregiver needs.
Routine home care
- Most common level of care in hospice. Patient is generally stable and the patient's symptoms, like pain or nausea and vomiting, are adequately controlled.
- Usually provided in the home.
General inpatient care
- Crisis-like level of care for short-term management of out of control patient pain and/or symptoms
- Usually provided outside the home, in an inpatient setting at a medical facility like a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
Continuous home care
- Crisis-like level of care for short-term management of out of control patient pain and/or symptoms
- Usually provided in the home.
Respite care
- A level of temporary care provided in nursing home, hospice inpatient facility, or hospital so that a family member or friend who's the patient's caregiver can take some time off.
- This level of care is tied to caregiver needs, not patient symptoms.
Level of care is one of many things to consider when choosing a hospice. Patient and caregiver needs may impact the level of care a hospice provides. Additionally, hospices that see a small number of patients might not have patients that need a level of care besides routine home care. If you're considering a hospice that hasn't provided a level of care beyond routine home care in a 3-year period, talk to your doctor and/or hospice representative. For help having this discussion, see our suggested questions to ask when choosing a hospice (PDF).