Questions to Ask When Comparing Hospice Agencies
Hospice agencies differ in staffing, responsiveness, and how they support families. These questions help you compare agencies on the things that matter day to day — ask them of every agency you're considering.
Response Time & Availability
- How quickly can you complete an admission after we decide?
- Do you offer same-day or next-day admissions?
- If we call with an urgent concern, how fast does someone respond — by phone and in person?
After-Hours & Weekend Nursing
- Is a nurse available to visit in person after hours and on weekends, or only by phone?
- Who answers the phone at 2 a.m. — your own staff or an answering service?
- What happens if symptoms get worse at night or on a holiday?
Medical Equipment (DME)
- How quickly can a hospital bed, oxygen, or wheelchair be delivered?
- Who do we call if equipment breaks or needs to be adjusted?
- Is all needed equipment covered under the hospice benefit?
Medication Delivery
- How are comfort medications ordered and delivered — and how fast?
- Do you keep a comfort kit in the home for urgent symptom changes?
- Who explains to us what each medication is for and how to give it?
Respite Care
- Do you offer respite care so family caregivers can rest?
- Where does respite care take place, and how is it arranged?
- How much notice do you need to schedule a respite stay?
General Inpatient Care
- If symptoms can't be managed at home, where would inpatient-level care happen?
- Do you have your own inpatient unit, or do you contract with hospitals or facilities?
- How is the decision made to move between levels of care — and who is involved?
Communication With the Family
- How often will we hear from the care team, and who is our main contact?
- How do you keep out-of-state family members informed?
- How do you handle concerns or complaints if something isn't working?
Language & Cultural Support
- Do you have staff or interpreters who speak our family's language?
- How do you support families with specific cultural or religious traditions?
- Are written materials available in our language?
Coordination With a Facility
- If our loved one lives in assisted living or a nursing facility, how do you work with the facility's staff?
- How often will hospice staff visit at the facility?
- Who is responsible for what — hospice versus the facility team?
You don't have to ask these alone
A SeniorVue social worker can help you work through this checklist, compare answers across agencies, and coordinate a family-directed referral to the hospice you choose — free and without pressure toward any provider.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Hospice care coverage and provider choice
- Medicare Care Compare — Find and compare hospice providers
- Arizona Department of Health Services — Provider licensing (AZ Care Check)
This page is general consumer information, not legal or medical advice. Confirm current rules and details directly with official sources and your care team.