Hospice care

What is hospice care?

Hospice is comfort-focused care for a person whose doctor certifies a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course, delivered by a team of nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers.

AHCA's locator shows 3 licensed hospices based in the two counties: Affinity Care of Manatee County LLC (Bradenton), Affinity Care of Sarasota (Sarasota), Empath Tidewell Hospice (Sarasota). Hospices licensed elsewhere in Florida may also serve local addresses.

Can hospice be provided in a Florida assisted living facility?

Yes; s. 429.26(1)(c) lets an ALF keep a resident on licensed hospice, even if bedridden, when the facility, resident and physician agree and a plan of care spells out who meets which needs.

That rule lets many residents avoid a final move.

Who pays for hospice?

Medicare's hospice benefit pays for the team, medications and equipment related to the terminal illness, and Medicaid covers hospice too; neither pays room and board in an ALF.

Ask about after-hours response times and where inpatient care happens.

How do I choose a hospice in Sarasota or Manatee?

Ask about after-hours response times, how often nurses and aides visit, whether the hospice has an inpatient unit or contracts with one, and what respite it offers caregivers.

You may change hospices once per benefit period.

Can hospice patients get respite care?

Yes: Medicare's hospice benefit includes inpatient respite of up to five days at a time so family caregivers can rest, and continuous home care during short periods of crisis.

Ask each hospice where its respite and inpatient beds are.

How do I know when it is time to ask about hospice?

Ask when treatment is no longer helping or wanted, hospital visits are becoming frequent, or the person is losing weight and function despite care; a physician must certify a life expectancy of six months or less, but people often live longer and can be recertified.

Enrolling earlier usually means more months of support for the patient and family. A hospice evaluation is free and does not commit anyone to enroll, and patients can leave hospice to resume curative treatment.

Where is hospice licensed in Sarasota and Manatee?

Here is how AHCA's records distribute hospice licenses between the two counties; agencies have no bed count.