When hospice care begins, a lot of new words show up — medical terms, legal forms, and phrases that may feel unfamiliar or confusing. This guide explains the most common hospice terms in everyday language, so you can feel clear and confident in each step.
You don’t need to know everything. That’s what we’re here for.
Also Known As:Hospice enrollment, hospice intake, hospice consent process, admitting to hospice Type:Care initiation process Primary Purpose:To formally begin hospice care, confirm clinical eligibility, and build the first plan of care around the patient and family. When It Applies:After a physician has certified a six-month or shorter prognosis and the family has chosen hospice. See […]
Also Known As:Hospice CNA, Certified Nurse Aide, Home Health Aide (HHA), personal care attendant Type:Direct hands-on caregiver Primary Purpose:To provide compassionate, hands-on personal care that protects comfort, safety, and dignity in the patient’s own setting. When It Applies:Whenever the patient needs help with day-to-day personal care, see assistance with daily activities for what that includes. […]
Also Known As:Alzheimer’s, AD, late-stage dementia, end-stage Alzheimer’s, advanced dementia Type:Progressive neurodegenerative disease Primary Purpose:To recognize when Alzheimer’s has reached a stage where comfort-focused hospice care becomes more appropriate than curative treatment. When It Applies:Once the disease has progressed to FAST Stage 7 (limited speech, loss of mobility, dependence in all daily activities) and the […]
Also Known As:Hospice evaluation, hospice consultation, pre-admission assessment, eligibility assessment Type:Clinical eligibility review and family conversation Primary Purpose:To give the patient, family, and physician a clear, honest picture of the patient’s condition and whether hospice care is appropriate now. When It Applies:Before formal admission, often the same day or the day after a referral is […]
Also Known As:ADLs, activities of daily living, personal care, daily living support Type:Hands-on caregiving service Primary Purpose:To preserve dignity, safety, and comfort by helping the patient with the everyday personal tasks that illness makes difficult. When It Applies:As soon as the patient needs help with one or more daily activities, bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting, […]
Also Known As:Grief support, hospice grief counseling, mourning support, bereavement services. See also: Grief Support. Type:Post-loss emotional and grief care Primary Purpose:To walk alongside surviving family members for at least 13 months after the death, through the firsts, the holidays, and the quiet weeks in between. When It Applies:Begins immediately after the patient’s passing and […]
Also Known As:Heart disease, end-stage heart failure, advanced CHF, NYHA Class IV, end-stage cardiac disease Type:Progressive cardiac condition Primary Purpose:To recognize when advanced heart disease has reached the stage where comfort-focused hospice care becomes more appropriate than aggressive treatment. When It Applies:When the patient is classified NYHA Class IV (symptoms at rest), has optimized medical […]
Also Known As:Plan of care, individualized care plan, interdisciplinary care plan. See also: Plan of Care. Type:Written, regulated care guide Primary Purpose:To document exactly what care the patient receives, visits, medications, equipment, services, and goals, so the team and family are aligned every day. When It Applies:Built at admission and updated every 14 days, or […]
Also Known As:Community Health Accreditation Partner, CHAP accreditation, hospice accreditation Type:Independent quality accreditation body Primary Purpose:To verify that a hospice agency meets, and exceeds, federal Medicare standards for patient safety, care quality, staff training, and clinical excellence. When It Applies:Hospice agencies pursue and renew CHAP accreditation voluntarily; reaccreditation occurs every three years. Who Is Involved:CHAP […]
Also Known As:Spiritual care counselor, pastoral care provider, faith support, hospice spiritual counselor Type:Interfaith spiritual and emotional care team member Primary Purpose:To provide non-denominational spiritual support to the patient and family, meeting people where they are, in whatever tradition or none. When It Applies:Available at any point in the hospice journey, from admission through bereavement. […]
Also Known As:Symptom management, palliative comfort care, end-of-life comfort support. Note: distinct from palliative care, which is offered alongside curative treatment. Type:Patient-centered supportive care service Primary Purpose:To relieve the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering of serious illness, prioritizing quality of life over disease-modifying treatment. When It Applies:From the moment hospice care begins, and throughout the […]
Also Known As:Continuous Home Care (CHC), crisis hospice care, bedside symptom management, Level 2 hospice care Type:Short-term, intensive hospice care level, one of the four levels of hospice care Primary Purpose:To provide around-the-clock nursing care at home during an acute symptom crisis so the patient can stay home instead of going to the hospital. When […]
Also Known As:Do Not Resuscitate order, no-code order, OOH-DNR (Texas Out-of-Hospital DNR) Type:Legal medical directive Primary Purpose:To document the patient’s choice that no CPR, intubation, defibrillation, or other resuscitation be attempted if the heart or breathing stops. When It Applies:Once signed and witnessed, it remains in effect until revoked by the patient. Who Is Involved:The […]
Also Known As:DME, medical equipment, home care equipment, hospice equipment Type:Medical supply and support service Primary Purpose:To provide the equipment patients need to stay safe, comfortable, and mobile in the home setting. When It Applies:From admission onward, as the patient’s plan of care requires. Who Is Involved:The hospice nurse identifies needs; a DME supplier contracted […]
Also Known As:Hospice consent form, hospice admission form, Medicare hospice election statement, MBI election form Type:Legal and administrative hospice document Primary Purpose:To formally enroll the patient in hospice and notify Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance that the patient is electing the hospice benefit. When It Applies:Signed at admission, before routine hospice care can begin to […]
Also Known As:F2F visit, hospice recertification visit, in-person eligibility check, hospice physician visit Type:Required medical assessment Primary Purpose:To physically confirm, through an in-person clinical exam, that the patient continues to meet hospice eligibility criteria. When It Applies:Required before the start of the third benefit period (after 180 days in hospice) and before each recertification period […]
Also Known As:GIP, inpatient hospice care, hospital-based hospice care, Level 3 hospice care Type:Short-term level of hospice care, one of the four levels of hospice care Primary Purpose:To provide around-the-clock medical care in a hospital or inpatient hospice unit when symptoms cannot be controlled in the patient’s primary residence. When It Applies:When uncontrolled pain, severe […]
Also Known As:Bereavement support, grief counseling, loss support services. See also: Bereavement. Type:Emotional and bereavement support service Primary Purpose:To help patients, family caregivers, and surviving loved ones process the grief that surrounds serious illness and end-of-life. When It Applies:Before, during, and after the patient’s passing. Anticipatory grief support begins at admission; bereavement support continues for […]
Also Known As:End-of-life care, comfort care, hospice care Type:Comprehensive, interdisciplinary care service Primary Purpose:To provide comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients with a serious, life-limiting illness, and full support for their families. When It Applies:When a physician certifies a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its expected course, […]
Also Known As:Hospice RN, RN case manager, hospice care nurse, primary nurse Type:Skilled clinical care provider and care coordinator Primary Purpose:To manage the patient’s symptoms, coordinate the full team, and act as the family’s clinical anchor 24/7. When It Applies:From admission through end-of-life, every hospice patient has a primary RN case manager. Who Is Involved:The […]
Also Known As:Interdisciplinary team, IDT, IDG, care coordination team, hospice care team Type:Federally required interdisciplinary care group Primary Purpose:To deliver comprehensive medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical care to the patient and family, coordinated as one. When It Applies:From admission through end-of-life and into bereavement. Who Is Involved:Hospice physician, RN case manager, hospice aides, social worker, […]
Also Known As:Interdisciplinary Group, Interdisciplinary Team, IDT meeting, team meeting Type:Federally required hospice team coordination meeting Primary Purpose:To review every patient’s plan of care every 14 days, share observations across roles, and adjust care to match the patient’s current needs. When It Applies:Every 14 days for every patient on hospice service, plus ad-hoc meetings during […]
Also Known As:Hospice referral, hospice information call, pre-admission call. See also: Admission. Type:Initial care coordination process Primary Purpose:To gather basic patient information, answer family questions, and schedule the first in-person assessment. When It Applies:The first contact between a family (or referring physician/facility) and the hospice, often a phone call. Who Is Involved:Hospice intake coordinator or […]
Also Known As:Four levels of hospice care, hospice care levels, Medicare hospice levels. See: our full guide. Type:Care classification system within the Medicare Hospice Benefit Primary Purpose:To match the patient’s current needs with the appropriate intensity of hospice care, scaling up or down as the situation changes. When It Applies:Throughout the hospice stay. Patients move […]
Also Known As:Texas Medicaid hospice benefit, STAR+PLUS hospice, Medicaid hospice coverage Type:State-administered health insurance program for low-income individuals Primary Purpose:To cover hospice services in full for eligible Texas residents. When It Applies:When the patient is enrolled in Texas Medicaid or a Medicaid-managed care plan (STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids, etc.) and meets hospice clinical eligibility. Who Is […]
Also Known As:Medicare Part A hospice coverage, Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicare end-of-life coverage Type:Federal health insurance program for adults 65+ and certain disabled individuals Primary Purpose:To cover hospice care in full for eligible beneficiaries under Medicare Part A. When It Applies:When the patient is enrolled in Medicare Part A, meets hospice clinical eligibility (six-month prognosis), […]
Also Known As:MHB, Medicare hospice coverage, Part A hospice benefit Type:Federally administered hospice insurance benefit Primary Purpose:To pay for all hospice-related care, including all four levels of care, the full team, medications, and equipment, at no cost to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. When It Applies:From the day of hospice election forward, for as long as the […]
Also Known As:Hospice medications, symptom medications, comfort medications, the hospice comfort kit Type:Symptom-management pharmaceutical care Primary Purpose:To control pain, breathlessness, nausea, anxiety, agitation, and other symptoms so the patient remains comfortable. When It Applies:Throughout the hospice stay. The medication list is adjusted constantly as symptoms change. Who Is Involved:The hospice physician and medical director who […]
Also Known As:Palliative medicine, supportive care, symptom-management care Type:Comfort-focused medical care for serious illness at any stage Primary Purpose:To relieve symptoms and stress from a serious illness, alongside curative treatment, if desired. When It Applies:Palliative care can begin at any point in a serious illness. Hospice, by contrast, requires a six-month prognosis. Who Is Involved:A […]
Also Known As:Care plan, individualized plan of care, IPOC. See also: Care Plan. Type:Required written care guide Primary Purpose:To document the patient’s complete care plan, diagnosis, goals, medications, visit schedule, equipment, and team members, in one place, accessible to everyone involved. When It Applies:Built at admission, updated continuously, formally reviewed every 14 days at the […]
Also Known As:Commercial insurance hospice coverage, employer-sponsored hospice coverage, group health plan hospice benefit Type:Private health insurance payment for hospice services Primary Purpose:To cover hospice services for patients enrolled in private insurance plans, including most employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, and individual plans. When It Applies:When the patient is enrolled in a private insurance plan that includes […]
Also Known As:Self-pay hospice, out-of-pocket hospice care, direct-pay hospice Type:Direct out-of-pocket payment for hospice services Primary Purpose:To pay for hospice care when no insurance coverage is available, a rare situation in the U.S. given how broadly hospice is covered. When It Applies:Almost never. Most patients qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or have private insurance with hospice […]
Also Known As:Life expectancy, terminal prognosis, terminal certification, six-month prognosis Type:Physician’s clinical estimate of life expectancy Primary Purpose:To estimate how long the patient is likely to live if the disease runs its expected course, and to document that estimate for hospice eligibility. When It Applies:Required at hospice admission and at every recertification thereafter. Who Is […]
Also Known As:Hospice respite, caregiver respite, Level 4 hospice care, short-term facility respite Type:Short-term family-caregiver relief level, one of the four levels of hospice care Primary Purpose:To give the family caregiver a break by temporarily moving the patient to a Medicare-certified facility for up to five days. When It Applies:When the family caregiver needs rest, […]
Also Known As:RHC, Level 1 hospice care, in-home hospice care, the standard level of hospice care Type:Most common level of hospice care, one of the four levels of hospice care Primary Purpose:To provide regular, scheduled hospice team visits at the patient’s primary residence, managing symptoms and personal care while the patient stays home. When It […]
Also Known As:SNF, nursing home, nursing facility, long-term care facility Type:Licensed long-term care facility providing 24-hour nursing Primary Purpose:To provide 24-hour skilled nursing care for patients who cannot safely live at home, and to serve as the patient’s residence while hospice services are delivered. When It Applies:When a patient cannot be safely cared for at […]
Also Known As:Hospice MSW, hospice social work, medical social worker, family care coordinator Type:Licensed psychosocial professional Primary Purpose:To support the patient and family through the emotional, practical, and logistical realities of end-of-life care. When It Applies:From admission through end-of-life. The first visit usually happens within the first week. Who Is Involved:The hospice MSW, the patient […]
Also Known As:Medical supplies, hospice consumables, incontinence supplies Type:Medical supply service Primary Purpose:To provide all medical supplies related to the terminal diagnosis and symptom management, so families never have to source, pay for, or run out. When It Applies:From admission onward, as the patient’s plan of care requires. Who Is Involved:The hospice nurse coordinates orders; […]
Also Known As:Terminal diagnosis, terminal condition, end-stage illness, life-limiting illness Type:Clinical classification triggering hospice eligibility Primary Purpose:To identify when a serious illness has reached a stage where curative treatment is no longer expected to extend life, and comfort-focused care becomes appropriate. When It Applies:When a physician certifies that the patient has a life expectancy of […]
Also Known As:Evening check-in call, hospice tuck-in, weekend tuck-in call Type:Proactive nursing phone contact Primary Purpose:To check in with the family before nights and weekends, confirm comfort, address questions, and ensure supplies and medications are stocked. When It Applies:Typically in the late afternoon or evening, especially before weekends and holidays. Who Is Involved:A hospice nurse […]
Also Known As:VA hospice, veteran hospice care, We Honor Veterans hospice Type:Hospice care for honorably discharged veterans, often coordinated with VA benefits Primary Purpose:To deliver high-quality hospice care that honors a veteran’s service, including pinning ceremonies, military-aware symptom care, and coordination with VA benefits when applicable. When It Applies:Any time a veteran qualifies for hospice. […]
Also Known As:Hospice volunteer companions, pet therapy volunteers, music volunteers, vigil volunteers Type:Trained community volunteer service Primary Purpose:To provide companionship, presence, and practical respite to patients and families, at no cost and beyond what paid staff can offer. When It Applies:From admission onward. Volunteers visit on a schedule that works for the patient and family. […]
Call us anytime at (972) 777-3000 or email care@liftedhospice.com.
