FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Start with what you need to know.
Find straightforward answers to common questions about hospice care, palliative care, support for families and getting started with Generation Care.
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01 · UNDERSTANDING HOSPICE
Understanding hospice care.
Hospice care is appropriate for terminally ill patients with a limited life expectancy. During this time, the hospice team focuses on the patient’s comfort — including emotional and spiritual wellbeing — rather than curing the illness.
Learn More About Hospice CareOne of the clearest signals is when a person is done with hospitalizations or curative treatments and the goal shifts to comfort. Other signs include declining function, uncontrolled symptoms and repeated ER visits.
Recognize the SignsPatients may receive routine home care, continuous care, respite care or general inpatient care depending on their needs. Continuous care is the short-term level that can include a nurse staying at the bedside during a symptom crisis.
Learn About Continuous CarePalliative care offers a more limited set of services by a team collaborating with other providers. Hospice allows a more expansive set of services, and hospice teams assume full authority over the patient’s care plan when curative treatment is no longer the goal.
Compare Hospice and Palliative CareNo. When curative treatments have been exhausted, hospice provides comfort, peace and dignity. Hospice is about improving quality of life, not giving up on the patient. Many patients live longer and more comfortably once enrolled.
No. We use small, carefully chosen doses for symptom control and comfort — not to hasten death. Appropriately dosed morphine relieves pain and breathlessness.
Read Our Guide to Pain and Morphine02 · CARE & SUPPORT
What care can families expect?
Hospice typically includes medical equipment, supplies, nursing visits, bath aides, social work, spiritual counseling, physician oversight and a 24/7 phone line. We also handle medication orders related to the hospice diagnosis and have them delivered to the patient’s door.
Explore Our Hospice Care ServicesNo — hospice does not replace full-time caregiving. Family members or hired caregivers remain the primary day-to-day helpers. We provide intermittent home health aide support for bathing and personal care, caregiver education and help connecting you with caregiving resources.
Only under continuous care, a short-term level of care used when symptoms require ongoing skilled nursing. Our clinical team must determine that the patient qualifies. Routine hospice includes scheduled visits plus 24/7 phone support — not round-the-clock bedside nursing.
Learn About Continuous CareHospice provides additional customized support beyond routine nursing home care, focusing on the physical, emotional and spiritual end-of-life needs determined by the patient’s individual plan of care.
Hospital and ER visits are disruptive and stressful. Our 24/7 telephone line gives patients access to medical professionals who address concerns as they arise, preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and exposure to infection.
Hospice care can be provided in an inpatient setting for short stays until symptoms are under control and the patient can comfortably return home. In some crises, continuous care at home may be appropriate first.
Learn About Continuous CareA hospice team member explains the stages of death, makes necessary calls, prepares the body and supports the family. Arrangements can be made to wait until family members arrive. Bereavement support continues afterward.
03 · GETTING STARTED
When you’re ready to ask what comes next.
Absolutely. Call us anytime at (805) 496-0044. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
We serve Los Angeles County and Ventura County, including Thousand Oaks, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Simi Valley and many surrounding communities. Contact us to confirm availability in your area.
View Our Service AreaKEEP EXPLORING
Looking for more detail?
Our guides and Patient & Family Handbook offer more in-depth information about hospice care, caregiving, comfort and what families can expect.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
If you don’t see your question here, our team is available to listen, answer your questions and help you understand what options may be right for you or someone you love.
Talk With Our TeamOr call us 24/7: (805) 496-0044