Key Things to Know and Look For When Choosing Hospice Care

Jacqueline Stroh
Feb 10
3 min read

Hospice care provides comfort, dignity, and support for individuals with terminal illnesses and their families during the final stages of life. It focuses on managing pain, symptoms, and emotional needs rather than curing the illness. Hospice is typically for those with a prognosis of six months or less if the disease follows its natural course, though many benefit from earlier entry to maximize support.

In Spokane and surrounding areas, families often seek hospice integrated into home like settings, adult family homes, or specialized facilities. Choosing the right provider makes a profound difference in quality of life. Here are the essential things to know and look for to make an informed decision.

1. Certification, Accreditation, and Basic Qualifications

Start with fundamentals to ensure reliability:

Is the hospice Medicare certified? Most reputable providers are, as this guarantees they meet federal standards for care, staffing, and quality.
Check for state licensing and accreditation from organizations like the Joint Commission or Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP).
How long has the provider been serving the community? Longer established hospices often have deeper local networks and experience.

Use resources like Medicare's Hospice Compare tool (medicare.gov/care-compare) to review quality ratings based on family feedback, survey data, and performance metrics.

2. Services and Levels of Care Offered

Hospice must provide core services, but quality varies:

Comprehensive interdisciplinary team: Includes nurses, physicians, aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors, and volunteers.
Symptom and pain management: Ask how they handle pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and other symptoms. Can they provide medications and equipment like hospital beds?
Location flexibility: Care in the home, adult family homes, assisted living, or inpatient facilities for short term needs.
After hours availability: 24/7 on call response for urgent needs, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Additional supports: Respite care for caregivers, grief counseling (often extending 13 months after death), spiritual care, and volunteer visits.

Inquire if they offer complementary therapies like music or massage if desired.

3. Responsiveness and Availability

Timely support is crucial:

How quickly do they respond to calls? Aim for prompt answers to urgent concerns.
Patient to nurse ratios: Lower ratios often mean more personalized attention.
Continuity of care: Will you see the same nurse regularly, or rotate staff?

4. Family and Caregiver Involvement

Hospice supports the whole family:

Are you involved in care decisions and planning?
What education and training do they provide for managing care at home?
Emotional and bereavement resources: Counseling for grief, support groups, and preparation for what to expect.

Ask to speak with current or past families for real experiences.

5. Financial and Insurance Considerations

Hospice is often covered fully under Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, or private insurance for eligible services.

Confirm what is covered and any out of pocket costs.
Do they accept your insurance and provide charity care if needed?
Get payment details in writing.

Spokane Specific Tips

In Spokane County, options include home based care or integration with adult family homes for a nurturing environment. Local providers vary in availability, so check for openings and community reputation. If time is short after a hospital stay, an advocate familiar with area options can help quickly identify fits.

You Are Not Alone

Choosing hospice is emotional, but the right provider brings peace through expert, compassionate care. Interview a few, ask these questions, and trust your instincts about the team's warmth and responsiveness.

At Assured Care Placement Services, we guide Spokane families through hospice integrated options at no cost to you. We vet providers, arrange visits, and support transitions to ensure comfort and dignity.