For Families · East Texas
You already know something is changing. We can help you name it.
If you are sitting with this at the kitchen table tonight — unable to sleep, not sure what to say — that is exactly the moment to call us. Not after you have decided. Now. This page tells you plainly what hospice is, what it covers, and what happens the moment you reach out.
01 —What Hospice Is
Hospice is not a place. It is a team that comes to you.
Hospice is a Medicare benefit that brings nursing, medical, social, spiritual, and aide care into whatever home the patient is already in — a private residence, an assisted living community, or a skilled nursing facility. Nothing moves. Nothing changes except that a team of people begins attending to the illness, the symptoms, and the family.
Hospice is not surrender. It is a decision — made with clear eyes and full faith — to stop pursuing treatments that are no longer working, and to spend the time that remains with the people who matter most. Most families who call us say they wish they had called sooner.
Hospice is not only for the final days. A patient can be on hospice for weeks or months. Some patients improve enough to leave hospice and return to curative treatment. The benefit is flexible.
02 —When to Call
The question physicians use: “Would I be surprised if this person died in the next six months?”
If the honest answer is no, hospice is worth a conversation. You do not need a referral to call us. You do not need a physician's order to ask questions. Here are five signs that it may be time:
Repeated hospitalizations
When a patient has been admitted two or more times in the past six months for the same condition, the illness is no longer responding to hospital care. Hospice can often provide better symptom management at home.
Weight loss and reduced appetite
Significant unintentional weight loss — 10% or more in six months — is a recognized clinical sign of decline. The body is shifting its priorities.
Increasing dependence on others
When a person who used to manage independently now requires help with bathing, dressing, eating, or moving, the illness has progressed to the point where hospice often improves quality of daily life.
A physician has suggested it
Physicians are often reluctant to raise hospice directly. If yours has said anything like "there may not be more we can do" or "we should talk about comfort-focused care," that is an opening worth following.
The family is exhausted
Caregiver burnout is itself a sign. If the person giving care is no longer sleeping, has stopped seeing other people, or has said they cannot keep going — that is the moment to call.
03 —What It Covers
Medicare pays for all of it.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers every service listed here at no cost to the patient or family. There is no deductible, no copay, and no enrollment fee.
Nursing visits
RN and LVN visits, as frequently as the plan of care requires.
Physician services
Medical director and attending physician coordination.
Social work
Counseling, advance care planning, and community resources.
Chaplaincy
Spiritual care for patients and family members.
Hospice aide
Personal care, bathing assistance, and daily comfort.
Medications
All medications related to the terminal diagnosis.
Medical equipment
Hospital bed, wheelchair, oxygen, and other durable equipment.
Bereavement support
Grief support for the family for 13 months after the death.
Medicaid and most private insurance follow similar coverage rules. Call us if you have a question about a specific plan.
04 —What Happens Next
The first 72 hours.
You call us.
Our intake nurse answers directly — no hold music, no portal. You tell us what is happening. We ask a few clinical questions about the patient's diagnosis and current condition.
We come to you — same day.
If it sounds like your family member may qualify, we arrange an in-home evaluation within four hours. A nurse and often a social worker come to the home, spend time with the patient and family, and explain exactly what hospice would look like.
We handle the paperwork.
If the family decides to move forward, we coordinate with the attending physician, obtain the required certification, and manage all admission paperwork. The family signs once. We take it from there.
The team arrives.
Within 24 hours of admission, the hospice aide, nurse, and often a chaplain or social worker make their first visits. Equipment is delivered. Medications are ordered. A care plan is in place.
05 —Where Care Happens
We come to you.
We provide care at home, in assisted living communities, and in skilled nursing facilities across our eight-county service area in East Texas. Nothing in your family's life needs to change location. We adapt to you.
06 —Faith & Tradition
Your faith. Honored exactly.
East Texas is a place where faith shapes how people live — and how they die. Our chaplain walks with patients and families of every tradition. We coordinate directly with your pastor, priest, or minister when the family wishes. We do not assume. We do not impose. We follow your lead, and we show up.
07 —Questions
What families ask us most.
Do I need a doctor's referral to call Azalea Hospice?+
No. Anyone can call us — a family member, a neighbor, a patient themselves. We will ask about the diagnosis and can communicate directly with the attending physician to determine eligibility. You do not need a referral in hand to start the conversation.
Does choosing hospice mean we are giving up?+
No. Hospice is a decision to stop pursuing treatments that are not extending life meaningfully, and to focus instead on comfort, dignity, and time at home. Most families describe it as gaining something — presence, clarity, and a team that is finally working toward what actually matters.
How long does someone stay on hospice?+
As long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Medicare certifies hospice in two 90-day periods, then in 60-day periods indefinitely. A patient can remain on hospice for months or years if the illness continues to meet the six-month prognosis standard.
What if my family member improves?+
If a patient improves enough that the physician can no longer certify a six-month prognosis, the patient is discharged from hospice and can return to regular Medicare coverage. Hospice can be re-elected if the condition declines again.
Can we choose our own doctor while on hospice?+
Yes. The patient's attending physician remains part of the care team. Our medical director coordinates with them, not replaces them.
Is hospice available in nursing homes and assisted living?+
Yes. We serve patients wherever they live, including assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities across our eight-county East Texas service area.
How does hospice handle pain?+
Our nurses and medical director are experienced in symptom management. Comfort medications, including opioids when appropriate, are covered under the Medicare benefit and managed by our clinical team. The goal is to keep the patient comfortable and present.
What does the family do after a patient dies?+
We guide the family through the immediate steps — contacting the funeral home, managing medications, returning equipment — and our bereavement coordinator continues following up for 13 months. You are not left alone after the death.
A question not answered here? Call us. There is no question too small and no conversation too early. (903) 555-0000
Accreditations & certifications
Medicare-Certified
CMS Provider · NPI #1700460789
Texas-Licensed
DSHS HCSSA #020708
CHAP Accredited
Independent accreditation
Call before you are certain. That is what we are here for.
Our intake nurse answers the phone directly. She answers questions, checks eligibility, and can arrange a same-day evaluation — no obligation, no pressure, no hold music.