Understanding Hospice Care Boundaries: What’s Covered and What’s Not
When families explore hospice care, questions naturally arise. Choosing hospice is never easy; it requires a shift in focus, from curing an illness to providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life. Understanding what hospice includes (and what it doesn’t) helps families plan confidently and avoid surprises.
At Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care, we believe clarity brings peace. This guide explains hospice care boundaries, what comprehensive services look like, and how families can navigate limitations with practical support.
What Hospice Care Is Designed to Provide
Before discussing what hospice doesn’t cover, it’s essential to understand its foundational mission. Hospice care is not about hastening death or giving up hope. Rather, it’s about changing priorities. From aggressive medical interventions aimed to terminate the disease, to holistic care that maximizes comfort and alleviates suffering, all while supporting both patients and families through the journey.
When a patient enrolls in hospice, they gain access to an interdisciplinary team of professionals committed to addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs. Here’s what comprehensive hospice care includes:
The Core of Hospice Services
Medical Care and Symptom Management
Hospice physicians, nurses, and medical staff work collaboratively to manage pain and other symptoms associated with a terminal illness. This includes regular assessments, medication adjustments, and ongoing monitoring to ensure patients experience the highest possible quality of life.
Medications and Medical Equipment
All medications related to the terminal diagnosis, including pain relievers, anti-nausea drugs, and other comfort medications, are covered under hospice care. Additionally, hospice will still provide the necessary medical equipment such as hospital beds, oxygen, walkers, and wheelchairs when directly related to managing the terminal condition.
Interdisciplinary Team Support
Hospice is not a solo endeavor. Patients receive coordinated care from:
- Physicians and nurse practitioners
- Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses
- Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)
- Social workers who help with care planning and emotional support
- Chaplains providing spiritual guidance tailored to each patient’s faith or values
- Therapists (physical, occupational, speech, and music) as needed for comfort
Emotional and Spiritual Care
Hospice acknowledges that end-of-life care extends far beyond physical symptoms. Chaplains, counselors, and social workers support patients and families through grief, anxiety, fear, and spiritual questions. This holistic approach honors the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Bereavement Counseling
Grief doesn’t end when a loved one passes. Hospice programs provide bereavement support for family members for at least one year following the patient’s death, offering counseling, support groups, and resources to navigate loss.
Respite Care
Caregiving is deeply rewarding but also exhausting. Oasis Hospice also offers respite care— or short-term inpatient stays (up to five consecutive days)—to give primary caregivers a much-needed break while ensuring their loved one receives expert care in a safe environment.
What Hospice Typically Doesn’t Cover (And Why)
Understanding hospice boundaries isn’t about limitations, it’s about clarity. Hospice operates within a specific care philosophy: prioritizing comfort and quality of life over curative treatments. This distinction shapes what falls inside and outside hospice’s scope.
Curative and Life-Prolonging Treatments
Why hospice focuses on comfort, not cure
Once a patient chooses hospice, the goal shifts from fighting a disease to managing its effects. Treatments aimed at curing or prolonging life, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or dialysis, are generally not covered when their primary intent is curative.
However, if a treatment provides symptom relief (for example, radiation to shrink a painful tumor), it can be covered. The distinction lies in intent: is the treatment meant to cure, or to ease pain?
“When families choose hospice, they’re choosing quality of life over aggressive interventions,” says Sade Bello, co-founder of Oasis Hospice. “We’re not abandoning treatment—we’re redefining what successful care means.”
Non-Palliative Medications
Medications unrelated to the terminal diagnosis are typically not covered by hospice. For instance, if a hospice patient has well-controlled diabetes or high blood pressure, medications for those chronic conditions fall outside hospice coverage unless they directly relate to comfort care.
Families can continue managing these medications through Medicare Part D or private insurance. Hospice social workers often help coordinate this dual-coverage approach, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for Non-Hospice Needs
Hospice provides all medical equipment necessary to manage the terminal illness, again this includes hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, commodes, and more. However, equipment unrelated to the hospice diagnosis, such as a wheelchair needed for an unrelated mobility issue predating hospice admission, might not be covered.
Here’s a practical tip: If your loved one requires DME for non-hospice conditions, Medicare Part B, Medicaid, or private insurance can often cover these items. Hospice social workers will guide you through the process of securing additional equipment if needed.
Home Modifications for Safety
While hospice excels at providing medical care, structural home modifications like installing ramps, grab bars, widening doorways, or adding wheelchair lifts fall outside hospice’s responsibility. These modifications are considered environmental adaptations rather than medical services.
Resources for families:
- Local Area Agencies on Aging often have home modification programs
- Veterans Affairs (VA) may provide home accessibility grants for eligible veterans
- Non-profit organizations and community groups sometimes offer assistance
- Oasis social workers can connect families with these resources
Medical Transportation
Hospice does not routinely provide transportation to medical appointments, though there are exceptions. If a patient requires transport to receive a hospice-related treatment (such as palliative radiation at a facility), hospice can often coordinate or cover transportation. For other appointments, families typically arrange their own transport.
“We sometimes help families coordinate care transitions and connect them with community transportation resources,” explains Gabrielle, Oasis Foundation Director. “Transportation logistics may require family or community support, but we’re here to guide you through those options so you never feel lost.”
24/7 In-Home Continuous Care (With Important Context)
Standard hospice care involves routine visits from the entire hospice team—nurses, aides, social workers, and chaplains—based on the patient’s needs. This does not mean a hospice staff member is present 24/7 in the home.
However, when a patient experiences a crisis requiring intensive intervention, hospice provides continuous care—skilled nursing for up to 24 hours in the home setting. If symptoms cannot be managed at home even with continuous care, patients may transition temporarily to general inpatient care (GIP) in a skilled nursing home or dedicated hospice inpatient unit, such as our own state of the art facility, House of Goshen, located in Flossmoor (more about this below).
Have Questions About Hospice Care?
When You Need More: Respite and Inpatient Care
Not every hospice journey takes place in the home, and that’s more than okay. Oasis Hospice recognizes that caregivers need rest, and patients sometimes require a higher level of medical intervention than home care can provide.
Respite Care: Relief for Caregivers
Caring for a terminally ill loved one is one of life’s most meaningful, and most demanding experiences. Respite care allows primary caregivers to take a necessary rest while their loved one receives loving care in an inpatient setting for up to five days.
During this time, patients receive the same compassionate, comfort-focused care they would at home, allowing caregivers to recharge physically and emotionally.
General Inpatient Care: When Symptoms Require Specialized Management
Sometimes, symptoms escalate beyond what can be managed at home, even with continuous care. General inpatient care (GIP) provides 24/7 specialized medical supervision in a controlled environment until symptoms stabilize.
Common reasons for GIP include:
- Uncontrolled pain requiring frequent medication adjustments
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or difficulty breathing
- Complex wound care needs
- Agitation or restlessness requiring immediate intervention
- Procedures such as draining fluid buildup (paracentesis) or placing comfort-focused medical devices
General inpatient care is typically short-term (3-5 days on average), after which most patients return home to routine hospice care. However, some patients and families prefer the security and comprehensive support of an inpatient hospice facility for an extended period.
House of Goshen: A Sanctuary for Specialized Care
For families in the Chicagoland area seeking inpatient hospice care that combines clinical excellence with a faith-centered approach, House of Goshen offers something extraordinary.
Located in Flossmoor, Illinois, House of Goshen is a 14-bedroom inpatient hospice facility designed to feel like home—not a hospital. Each private suite provides comfort, dignity, and space for families to remain close to their loved ones without the constraints of traditional ICU visiting hours.
What sets House of Goshen apart:
- 24/7 medical care from a compassionate, expert hospice team
- Holistic support including music therapy, chaplain services, and personalized spiritual care
- Seamless partnership with Oasis Hospice, ensuring continuity of care when transitioning from home to inpatient settings
- CHAP accreditation and partnership with University of Chicago Medical, guaranteeing the highest standards of clinical quality
- Faith-centered environment that honors each patient’s values and beliefs
“House of Goshen was created to be a sanctuary—a place where patients receive the highest level of medical care in an environment that honors their dignity and our shared humanity,” says Hakeem Bello, CEO of Oasis & House of Goshen.
Families who choose House of Goshen don’t just receive excellent medical care—they experience refuge during life’s most sensitive hour.
Experience Compassionate Inpatient Hospice Care
Common Questions Families Ask
“What if my loved one needs treatment not covered by hospice?”
Patients can still receive non-hospice treatments through Medicare Part B, Medicaid, or private insurance. Hospice social workers help coordinate dual coverage so nothing is overlooked.
“How long can someone receive hospice care?”
Hospice is available for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less (if the illness follows its expected course). However, patients can remain in hospice as long as they continue to meet eligibility criteria. Some individuals “graduate” from hospice if their condition stabilizes or improves, while others receive care for extended periods. There is no arbitrary time limit.
“Does hospice provide financial assistance?”
Medicare covers hospice services at 100% for eligible beneficiaries, with minimal copays (typically 5% for respite care and outpatient medications). Private insurance, Medicaid, and VA benefits also cover hospice. For families without coverage, some hospice organizations—including The Oasis Foundation—offer financial assistance programs and scholarships.
“Are there visit limits from the hospice team?”
No. Hospice visits are tailored to each patient’s needs. Some patients require daily nursing visits, while others receive weekly check-ins. If a patient’s condition changes, hospice increases visit frequency immediately—including continuous care if necessary.
“What support is available for family members?”
Hospice provides extensive family support, including:
- Chaplain visits for spiritual guidance
- Social work services for advance care planning, benefit navigation, and counseling
- Bereavement counseling from before the patient’s death and up to one year after
- Educational resources to help families understand what to expect
Moving Forward with Confidence
Choosing hospice care is an act of love. It is a decision to prioritize dignity and meaningful connection. Understanding the boundaries of hospice services doesn’t diminish its value; rather, it empowers families to plan thoughtfully and access the full spectrum of support available.
At Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care, we’re committed to walking alongside families with transparency, compassion, and expertise. Whether you’re exploring hospice for the first time or navigating the transition from home care to inpatient support at House of Goshen, we’re here to provide clarity, answer questions, and honor your loved one’s journey with the dignity they deserve.
About Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care
Serving Cook, Will, and DuPage Counties, Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care provides compassionate, faith-based end-of-life care with CHAP accreditation and Medicare certification. In partnership with House of Goshen Inpatient Hospice, Oasis offers a full continuum of hospice services, from routine home care to specialized inpatient support—ensuring families receive seamless, expert care every step of the way.
Learn more: www.oasishospice.us | www.houseofgoshen.org
Or call us today: (773) 941-4838
