Access Center | Assistance Hospice Care, Inc.

The Access Center provides practical information to help patients and families understand hospice care, available support, and how to begin the care process.

Patients, family members, caregivers, and other people involved in a patient’s care can contact the team to ask about hospice services and available support.

Families may consider asking about hospice when a person is living with a serious or life-limiting illness and the focus of care is shifting toward comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life.

Hospice care may include nursing support, symptom monitoring, physician involvement, personal care assistance, social services, emotional support, and spiritual care based on individual needs.

Yes. Hospice care focuses on comfort, dignity, symptom management, and quality of life for patients while also supporting their families.

Yes. Hospice care can include education, emotional support, guidance, and other resources to help family members and caregivers during the patient’s care.

Hospice nurses help monitor symptoms, coordinate care, provide education, and communicate with patients, families, physicians, and other members of the hospice team.

Yes. Physicians can be involved in developing and reviewing the plan of care, managing symptoms, and coordinating appropriate medical support with the hospice team.

Yes. Hospice social workers can help with emotional support, care planning, available resources, family concerns, and practical needs related to the patient’s situation.

A personal care aide may assist with activities such as bathing, grooming, personal hygiene, and other comfort-focused daily care according to the patient’s plan.

Yes. Symptom management is an important part of hospice care and may address pain, breathing difficulties, nausea, anxiety, and other symptoms affecting comfort.

Medications related to the hospice diagnosis and comfort-focused plan of care may be provided when they are included as part of the patient’s hospice services.

Equipment related to the hospice plan of care, such as certain beds or other supportive equipment, may be arranged when medically appropriate for the patient.

No. Hospice services can often be provided in the patient’s place of residence or another appropriate care setting, depending on individual circumstances and the available level of care.

Yes. Emotional support can be provided to patients and families as they cope with the changes, concerns, and decisions associated with serious illness.

Spiritual support may be available for patients and families who want it, with care that respects personal beliefs, values, traditions, and preferences.

The plan of care is developed around the patient’s condition, symptoms, comfort goals, personal needs, and family situation with input from the hospice care team.

Yes. Caregivers can receive practical guidance about comfort measures, symptom observation, medications, equipment, and when to contact the hospice team for assistance.

A patient, family member, caregiver, or healthcare professional can contact the Assistance Hospice Care Access Center to discuss the situation and learn about the next appropriate steps.

It can be helpful to have basic information about the patient’s current condition, diagnosis, care needs, recent changes, and contact details so the team can better understand the situation.