What Happens at a Hospice Admission Visit? What Patients and Families Can Expect
In fiscal year 2025, 1,920,708 Medicare beneficiaries received hospice care in the United States, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). View the CMS 2026 Hospice Monitoring Report
For nearly two million patients and their families, beginning hospice meant having an important first visit: the hospice admission visit.
But if you have never experienced hospice before, that first visit can bring plenty of questions.
Who will come to the house? What paperwork will we sign? Will medications change? When will equipment arrive? What should we have ready? What happens after the nurse leaves?
Understanding what happens during a hospice admission visit can make the transition into hospice feel a little less uncertain and help patients and families know what to expect.
Key Takeaways
A hospice admission visit generally takes place after the patient has been determined eligible for hospice and the patient or representative chooses to begin hospice services.
A hospice nurse will assess the patient's current condition, symptoms, medications, safety needs, and immediate concerns.
Patients or their representatives will review and sign documents explaining hospice services, coverage, rights, responsibilities, and the hospice election.
The hospice team begins developing an individualized plan of care based on the patient's needs, goals, and preferences.
Medications, medical equipment, and supplies related to the terminal illness and comfort needs may be reviewed and arranged.
Families receive education about who to call, what symptoms to report, and how to reach the hospice team when concerns arise.
Hospice admission is the beginning of an ongoing relationship. The care plan can change as the patient's condition and needs change.
What Is a Hospice Admission Visit?
A hospice admission visit is the process of officially beginning hospice services after a patient has been found eligible and has chosen hospice care.
It is different from simply asking questions about hospice or having an initial hospice evaluation.
During an evaluation, the hospice team may review the patient's medical condition, discuss eligibility, explain services, and answer questions before the patient decides whether to enroll.
During admission, the focus shifts toward beginning care.
For patients receiving hospice through Medicare, hospice generally requires certification that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its normal course, along with an election of the Medicare hospice benefit. CMS also requires an individualized plan of care developed with the patient or representative and hospice interdisciplinary team.
Choosing hospice does not mean that care stops.
Instead, the goal of care changes toward comfort, symptom management, quality of life, and support for both the patient and family.
What Happens Before the Hospice Admission Visit?
Before the admission nurse arrives, several things may already have happened.
A physician, hospital, nursing facility, family member, patient, or another healthcare professional may have contacted the hospice.
Medical information may be reviewed to determine whether the patient appears to meet hospice eligibility requirements.
A hospice representative may also have spoken with the patient or family about:
The patient's diagnosis
Recent hospitalizations
Changes in health or functional ability
Current symptoms
Hospice services
Insurance coverage
Goals of care
Where the patient is currently living
Hospice care can be provided in many settings, including private residences, assisted living communities, nursing facilities, and other appropriate care settings.
If you are still at the stage of determining whether hospice is appropriate, our earlier guide explains the process in more detail:
What Happens During a Hospice Evaluation? A Step-by-Step Guide for Families Read the Oasis Hospice guide to hospice evaluations
Once hospice has been chosen, the admission process can begin.
What Happens During a Hospice Admission Visit?
Although every hospice and every patient's circumstances are different, several important things commonly happen during the first hospice visit.
1. The Hospice Nurse Will Assess the Patient
One of the most important parts of a hospice admission visit is understanding exactly what the patient needs right now.
A registered nurse will assess the patient's condition and immediate care needs.
The nurse may evaluate:
Pain
Breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Anxiety or restlessness
Confusion
Weakness
Mobility
Eating and drinking
Swallowing
Sleeping patterns
Skin condition
Bowel and bladder concerns
Fall risk
Current medications
Recent changes in the patient's condition
The nurse may also ask about symptoms that have become more difficult to manage.
This is a good time for patients and caregivers to be open about what has been happening.
Something that seems small—such as needing more help getting out of bed, sleeping considerably longer, eating less, or becoming increasingly short of breath—can provide important information for the hospice team.
CMS requires the hospice registered nurse to complete an initial assessment within required timeframes to identify immediate care and support needs. A comprehensive assessment must then be completed no later than five calendar days after hospice care begins.
2. You Will Talk About the Patient's Goals
Hospice care should not be based only on a diagnosis.
It should also reflect what matters to the patient.
The nurse may ask questions such as:
What is most important to you right now?
What symptoms are bothering you the most?
What are you most worried about?
Where do you want to receive your care?
Are there activities you would like to continue?
Are there cultural or spiritual preferences we should know about?
What does comfort look like to you?
What support does your caregiver need?
Two people with the same diagnosis may have very different priorities.
One patient may be most concerned about pain.
Another may want to remain alert enough to talk with family.
Another may be primarily concerned about shortness of breath, sleeping comfortably, remaining in familiar surroundings, or avoiding repeated trips to the hospital.
These conversations help the hospice team create care that is centered around the individual rather than simply the illness.
3. Admission Paperwork Will Be Reviewed
There is paperwork involved in hospice admission, but families should have an opportunity to ask questions before signing.
For Medicare beneficiaries, the hospice election statement explains important information about choosing hospice, including the palliative rather than curative focus of hospice care and how Medicare coverage applies to the terminal illness and related conditions.
Other paperwork may address topics such as:
Consent for hospice services
Patient rights and responsibilities
Privacy practices
Insurance and billing information
Advance directives
Emergency contacts
The patient's attending physician
Hospice policies and procedures
Do not hesitate to ask the admission nurse to slow down or explain something again.
Families are not expected to already understand hospice terminology.
4. During the Hospice Admission Visit, Medications Are Reviewed
Bring out the medications.
All of them.
The hospice nurse may want to review prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and other treatments the patient currently uses.
It can help to have the actual medication bottles available rather than trying to remember everything from memory.
The hospice team will determine how medications relate to the patient's hospice diagnosis, symptoms, comfort, and plan of care.
Some medications may continue.
Others may be reconsidered based on the patient's goals, condition, effectiveness, risks, and overall plan.
Patients and caregivers should not stop medications simply because hospice has begun unless instructed by the appropriate healthcare provider.
CMS includes medications for pain and symptom management related to the terminal illness and related conditions among services that may be covered under the Medicare hospice benefit.
5. Medical Equipment and Supplies May Be Arranged
Another important part of hospice admission is determining whether the patient needs equipment or supplies to remain comfortable and safe.
Depending on the individual's needs and plan of care, hospice may arrange items such as:
A hospital bed
Bedside commode
Wheelchair
Walker
Oxygen equipment
Pressure-relieving equipment
Incontinence supplies
Other medical supplies associated with hospice care
Not every patient will need the same equipment.
Some may already have everything they need, while others may require several items.
Equipment needs can also change.
A patient who walks independently when hospice begins may eventually need additional assistance. The hospice team can reassess those needs as the illness progresses.
6. The Family Will Learn Who Is on the Hospice Team
Hospice care involves more than one nurse.
Depending on the patient's needs and preferences, the interdisciplinary hospice team may include:
Registered nurses
Physicians
Hospice aides
Social workers
Chaplains or spiritual care professionals
Volunteers
Bereavement support staff
Other professionals involved in the patient's plan of care
Not every team member will necessarily visit during the admission itself.
The first visit begins the process of identifying which services and disciplines may be helpful.
CMS describes hospice as a comprehensive program that can include nursing, physician services, medical equipment and supplies, medications for symptom management, social services, counseling, spiritual support, and bereavement services.
Caregiver Education Is a Major Part of Hospice Admission
Hospice is not only about treating symptoms when a nurse is physically present.
A major part of hospice is helping families understand what to do between visits.
During admission and subsequent visits, caregivers may receive education about:
Giving medications safely
Repositioning the patient
Preventing falls
Managing oxygen
Providing mouth care
Recognizing changes in symptoms
Knowing when to call hospice
Understanding changes that can occur as illness progresses
No caregiver is expected to learn everything in one conversation.
Ask questions.
Write things down.
Ask the nurse to demonstrate something again.
Hospice education continues throughout the patient's care.
What Should Families Have Ready for a Hospice Admission Visit?
You do not need to perfectly prepare your home before hospice arrives.
However, having a few things available can make the admission process easier.
Consider gathering:
Current medication bottles
A medication list, if available
Insurance information
Identification
Advance directive or medical power of attorney documents, if applicable
Hospital discharge paperwork
Recent medical records you may have
Physician contact information
Pharmacy information
Emergency contact information
It can also be helpful to write down questions ahead of time.
When families are overwhelmed, questions that seemed impossible to forget can suddenly disappear once the nurse arrives.
What Questions Should You Ask During the Hospice Admission Visit?
There are no bad questions.
Consider asking:
Who do we call if something changes tonight?
Is someone available after normal business hours?
Which medications should we continue?
Which medications will hospice provide?
When should we expect equipment?
How often will the nurse visit?
Will we have the same nurse?
What other members of the hospice team will contact us?
What should we do if pain suddenly increases?
What happens if the patient falls?
What happens if we become unable to care for the patient safely?
Can hospice care continue if the patient moves to another setting?
Who should we call if we think the patient may be dying?
Save the hospice telephone number in your phone.
Put it somewhere visible for other family members and caregivers as well.
What Happens After the Admission Nurse Leaves?
The hospice admission visit is only the beginning.
Information gathered during admission helps the interdisciplinary hospice team develop and refine the patient's individualized plan of care.
The plan may include:
Nursing visits
Symptom management
Medications
Medical equipment
Hospice aide services
Social work support
Spiritual care
Volunteer services
Caregiver education
Emotional support
Bereavement support for the family
The frequency of visits depends on the patient's individual needs and can change as those needs change.
Hospice care is not meant to remain exactly the same from admission until the end of life.
If symptoms increase, mobility declines, caregiving becomes more difficult, or the patient's condition changes, tell the hospice team.
The care plan can be adjusted.
Does Hospice Admission Mean Someone Is Dying Immediately?
No.
Hospice eligibility is generally based on a physician's certification that a patient has a prognosis of six months or less if the illness follows its expected course. It does not mean anyone can determine the exact day, week, or month a person will die.
Some patients decline quickly.
Others stabilize.
Some remain on hospice considerably longer than families initially expected, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Hospice is not reserved only for someone's final hours or days.
Beginning care earlier may provide more opportunity for symptom management, caregiver education, emotional support, equipment, resources, and relationship-building with the hospice team.
The Hospice Admission Visit Is the Beginning of Support
Starting hospice can feel like a major transition.
There may be paperwork, medications to review, new equipment arriving, unfamiliar people calling, and difficult conversations happening all at once.
But families do not need to memorize everything during the first visit.
The purpose of the hospice admission visit is to begin understanding the patient as a whole person: their illness, symptoms, concerns, preferences, family situation, and goals.
From there, the hospice team can begin building a plan designed around comfort, dignity, quality of life, and support.
Sometimes the first step is simply understanding what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Hospice Admission Visit
What happens at a hospice admission visit?
During a hospice admission visit, a hospice nurse typically assesses the patient's condition and symptoms, reviews medications, discusses the patient's goals and care needs, completes admission documentation, identifies equipment or supply needs, provides caregiver education, and begins developing the patient's individualized hospice plan of care.
How long does a hospice admission visit take?
The length of a hospice admission visit varies depending on the patient's condition, medical history, paperwork, medications, care needs, and the number of questions the patient or family has. Families should allow enough time to complete the assessment and discuss concerns without feeling rushed.
What should I have ready for hospice admission?
If available, gather the patient's medications, medication list, insurance information, identification, physician information, advance directive or medical power of attorney documents, recent hospital paperwork, pharmacy information, and a list of questions for the hospice team.
Does signing hospice admission paperwork mean all medical treatment stops?
No. Hospice changes the focus of care toward comfort and symptom management for the terminal illness and related conditions. Patients may still receive medical care, medications, treatments, and services consistent with their hospice plan of care. Medical care unrelated to the terminal illness may also continue as appropriate.
Will hospice bring a hospital bed during the admission visit?
Not necessarily. The hospice team will determine what equipment is appropriate based on the patient's needs and plan of care. If equipment such as a hospital bed, oxygen, wheelchair, bedside commode, or other items is needed, hospice may arrange for delivery.
Can family members be present during a hospice admission visit?
Yes. When the patient agrees, family members and caregivers are often encouraged to participate. Their questions and observations can help the hospice team better understand the patient's needs and the caregiver's concerns.
What happens after the hospice admission visit?
After admission, the hospice interdisciplinary team continues assessing the patient's physical, emotional, psychosocial, spiritual, and caregiving needs. Team members may begin visiting according to the individualized plan of care, and medications, equipment, supplies, education, and other services may be arranged as needed.
Who should we call if the patient's condition changes after admission?
Contact your hospice provider when symptoms change or you have concerns about the patient's comfort or condition. Your hospice team will provide instructions for reaching them and explain when and how to call for assistance.
Learn More About End-of-Life
If you're caring for someone with a serious illness, these Oasis Hospice Care resources may also be helpful:
Why Do Hospice Patients Stop Drinking? Understanding Thirst and Fluid Changes Near the End of Life
What Happens Immediately After a Hospice Patient Dies at Home?
What Does "Active Dying" Really Mean? Understanding the Final Stage of Life
Why Do Seniors Stop Eating? Understanding Appetite Changes in Older Adults
What Happens in the Last 48 Hours of Life: What Families Should Expect
Should I Wake My Loved One to Eat or Take Medication? A Guide for Families
Looking for more helpful information? Explore our Hospice Education, Health & Disease Education, Community Resources, and Emotional Wellness & Support categories for compassionate guidance, practical resources, emotional support and answers to common questions about hospice care, caregiving, chronic illness, and the end-of-life journey.
Why Families Trust Oasis Hospice:
Oasis Hospice has been recognized as one of the highest-rated hospice providers based on Medicare.gov quality ratings. Families searching for compassionate, high-quality hospice support can compare hospice providers and learn more through Medicare.gov Care Compare. For additional education, caregiving guidance, and end-of-life support resources, families may also find helpful information through the Hospice Foundation of America.
From Houston to Huntsville, Houston to Livingston, and communities in between, as well as the greater Austin area, Oasis Hospice is committed to providing compassionate hospice care, guidance, and support for patients and families during life’s most difficult moments. If you or a loved one have questions about hospice support services, Oasis Hospice is here to help families throughout Southeast Texas navigate care with compassion, dignity, and guidance every step of the way. To learn more about our hospice services and family support resources, please visit our website below.
Explore more hospice resources, support, and articles here:
This article is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Questions about a specific medical condition, prognosis, or hospice eligibility should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
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