What Are The Levels Of Hospice Care?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has defined four kinds, or “levels,” of hospice care. While one patient can experience only one level throughout his stay in hospice, others can experience all four levels within the first few weeks in hospice.

Each level of hospice care is designed to meet specific needs of the patient.

• Routine Hospice Care
  Routine hospice care is the most common level of hospice care. This care is provided at the patient’s residence, whether it is a nursing facility, private residence, or assisted living facility.
• Continuous Home Care
  Continuous home care is provided anywhere between 8 to 24 hours a day. This care focus on helping the patient manage pain and other symptoms. This level of care assists the patient to remain calm and comfortable at his home.
• General Inpatient Care
  This level of care involves controlling pain or other acute symptoms in an inpatient setting. This care often begins when other efforts to address symptoms become ineffective. This care is provided in a hospice inpatient facility or a Medicare-certified hospital.
• Inpatient Respite Care
  Inpatient respite care is designed for primary caregivers. It provides temporary relief to the caregiver and is often provided in a hospital, continuum care hospice, hospice facility, or long-term care facility. Respite care is only provided for a maximum of 5 days consecutively.