Home hospice vs. a facility: questions to ask

Start with the care team's view of the setting

There is no single right setting for end-of-life care. Home, hospital, nursing facility, and inpatient hospice settings can all fit different situations.

CareKeeper cannot tell you which setting fits your family. This page is a prompt for questions to bring to the people who know the medical and household details.

Questions about care needs

Ask what level of support is needed now, and what might change soon.

• What care tasks are expected at home between visits?
• Which tasks should family not try to handle alone?
• What signs would make the team suggest a different setting?
• What equipment or supplies would be needed at home?

Questions about caregiver capacity

Care at home depends on the people doing the day-to-day work. It is reasonable to talk honestly about sleep, lifting, transportation, other jobs, and who can cover nights.

• How much hands-on care would family need to provide each day?
• What backup exists if the primary caregiver cannot be there?
• Can respite care be used, and how would we arrange it?

Questions about cost and coverage

Coverage details vary. Ask the hospice provider, insurer, Medicare, Medicaid, or facility directly what is covered, what is not, and what would be billed separately.