To be eligible for hospice care under Medicare guidelines, two physicians must agree that an individual has a life expectancy of six months or less. In addition, choosing hospice means that the patient will no longer seek a cure for their terminal illness.Anyone can make a hospice referral—you do not have to have a doctor’s order to start the process of finding out if you or a loved one may be able to receive hospice care.

At St. Agatha Comfort Care offers levels of care for every stage of the hospice journey. The patient’s clinical status and specific needs determine which level of care they qualify for, and the hospice team and patient’s attending physician help determine which level the patient will receive and where they will receive it. Patients may transition through different levels of care depending on their medical needs and where they are on their journey.

Routine Home Care Provided by hospice team members who visit the patient and their family in their home, wherever that may be. Continuous Care Through constant care, nurses and certified nursing assistants provide support in the home or facility to help manage and ease out-of-control symptoms. General Inpatient Care Provided at one of our inpatient centers or in a hospital or skilled nursing facility for patients who have uncontrolled pain or symptoms that can’t be managed in another setting. Inpatient Respite Care Up to 5 days of care at one of our inpatient centers or a contracted facility to give the family or caregiver a rest.