Let's start with this understanding - Hospice services are covered by Medicare and providers must comply with Medicare requirements. Medicare does NOT provide 24/7 unlimited nursing home care so do your research, learn what to expect, and uncover additional resources that are available to help your family. We chose to care for our loved one at home, meaning the family provides patient care while having access to daily Hospice visits and 24/7 support services via telephone. The Hope Hospice at-home team assigned to my parent (RN, PCS/CNA, Social Worker, Chaplain, etc.) are knowledgeable, hard-working, caring, and readily available to both the patient & family. Equipment is available for at-home care such as hospital bed, medication & bandages, personal care items, and various medical items. Supplies are ordered and delivered to your door. Volunteers are cheery and helpful, calling each week to ensure we have what we need. We appreciate our team! Challenges: (1) Figuring out what Medicare will/will not provide, (2) The person who manually prepares the home-visit schedule (why isn’t scheduling software used?) makes a lot of mistakes; you must be proactive to ensure a daily visit occurs, (3) Many Hospice services listed on the website are not actually available, (4) Respite Care (in-patient facility) staff seem competent but are less friendly and accommodating than the at-home care team. One CNA did not wear a mandated mask during COVID! My parent was never taken out of bed during a 5-day stay. And never got out of bed again. So we won't use Respite Care again even though we could use a break to replenish mind and spirit.