Questions to Ask When Choosing a Hospice
When choosing a hospice, it is important to ask several key questions to ensure it meets the needs of the patient and family. Inquire about the hospice's accreditation to ensure it complies with health standards and regulations. Assess the range of services provided, including pain management, emotional support, and spiritual care. It's essential to understand the availability of staff, including registered nurses and social workers, as well as the level of experience they possess in palliative care. Additionally, ask about the hospice's philosophy of care and how they involve families in the decision-making process. Lastly, consider logistical aspects, such as services offered in home settings versus facilities, insurance acceptance, and referral processes.
Below you will find a list of example questions to consider asking when selecting a Hospice:
What types of services do you offer to patients and their families?
What is the process for enrolling in your hospice program?
Are your medical staff and caregivers certified and trained in hospice care?
What is the availability of your services? Is care provided 24/7?
How do you handle pain management and symptom control?
What support services do you provide for families and caregivers?
Are there any additional costs that may arise beyond what is covered by insurance?
Can you provide details about your partnership with local hospitals and medical facilities?
How do you approach emotional and spiritual support for patients and families?
What is your policy on continuing care in case of emergencies?
Can you provide references or testimonials from former patients and their families?
How often will the care team communicate with the family regarding the patient's condition?
What options do you offer for respite care for family caregivers?
Are there programs for bereavement support after the patient passes?
What is your philosophy regarding end-of-life care?
Hospice plays a crucial role in providing compassionate care and support for individuals facing terminal illnesses. It focuses on enhancing the quality of life for patients by addressing their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The interdisciplinary team, which may include physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains, collaborates closely with families to ensure that both patients and caregivers receive the necessary resources and guidance during this challenging time. By prioritizing comfort and dignity, hospice care helps individuals live their final days with respect and peace, while also offering bereavement support for loved ones after the patient's passing.
RC Healthcare, Inc. aims to provide exceptional comfort and care to those with a terminal illness. Our team of Hospice & Palliative care professionals are committed to delivering the best quality service your loved one deserves. We believe in focusing on life, improving the quality of each new day & that each person’s life is a remarkable journey.
From our start, our mission has been to provide our patients, and their families personalized support, attentive and compassionate care and resourcefulness all while prioritizing the dignity of our patient. Our dedicated staff includes Physicians, Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants and highly motivated individuals who willingly volunteer their time in the care of our clients. As of 2025, we are proud to have consecutively maintained our Joint Commission accreditation and additionally have received our third star as part of the We Honor Veterans program. In an effort make a true difference in the lives of those family members that we walk alongside, we also created a bereavement program called RC Legacy. This is a program that focuses on meaningful ways to memorialize and honor the life of their loved one in heartfelt ways such as preserved photographs, hand molds, and our most popular—memorial bears that are created using an article of clothing that belonged to their loved one.
A large part of the RC Mission is to be an organization that can offer valuable information and support to the community whether or not individuals have participated in our program. What this means is we offer high quality resources on our website, which includes blog posts, resources for additional patient needs, bereavement support, a Youtube Channel with many helpful video topics, and more.