Does hospice provide 24-hour care at home, or does the family have to cover nights?

No, routine hospice at home usually does not include round-the-clock caregivers; the hospice team visits on a schedule and is reachable by phone 24/7, while the family or privately hired aides usually cover the rest, including nights.

What hospice does provide:

• Scheduled nurse, aide, social worker and chaplain visits.
• A 24-hour phone line, with a nurse who can come out for urgent problems.
• Medications, equipment and supplies related to the terminal illness.

When symptoms are hard to control, Medicare hospice has a level called continuous home care, where nursing care is provided for longer stretches at home during a crisis. It is short-term and decided by the hospice team. Ask her hospice nurse whether it applies.

Hospice also offers respite care: she can stay in an approved facility for a few days so the family can rest.

Options for nights:

• Rotate nights among family members.
• Hire a private aide for overnight hours.
• Ask the hospice social worker about community or Medicaid resources.

You should not have to stay awake every night alone. Talk honestly with the hospice team about what you can manage.

ProLife is not a hospice, but our aides can cover nights alongside the hospice team; call (718) 232-2777.