Frequently Asked Questions
We’re bringing answers home.
Hospice FAQ
What is hospice?
Hospice is a philosophy of high-quality, compassionate care for anyone of any age who has a life-limiting illness and does not want any more curative treatment. It provides dignity, choice and comfort so what remains of life can be lived to its fullest. Hospice care also provides a great deal of support for family members in the form of physical, emotional and spiritual assistance.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is designed to maximize the quality of life for patients with advanced or life-limiting illness. Hospice is a form of palliative care, but hospice is for those who don’t want to continue curative treatment. At Hospice Atlanta, our palliative care is called the Advanced Illness Management (AIM) program and it combines active and compassionate therapies to compliment the patient’s medical care.
What’s the difference between home healthcare, hospice care and private home care?
Home Healthcare is quite like it sounds. It is medical attention provided by skilled professionals that takes place in the comfort and convenience of your own home. The care comes to you rather than you having to travel to a hospital or clinic. Home healthcare is coordinated by a licensed, qualified organization and may involve the services of nurses, therapists, clinicians and sometimes even social workers providing non-medical support. It is a service ordered by a physician for patients who may be recovering from a surgery, illness or injury or for those facing chronic illness.
Hospice care is a philosophy of high-quality, compassionate care for anyone of any age who has a life-limiting illness and does not want any more curative treatment. It provides dignity, choice and comfort so what remains of life can be lived to its fullest. Hospice care also provides a great deal of support for family members in the form of physical, emotional and spiritual assistance.
Private Home Care provides care that concentrates on activities of daily living that including live in senior care, personal care, household/chore services, and transportation. These are all things that allow us to remain independent and in our homes.
Where does hospice care take place?
Hospice Atlanta provides hospice services in the comfort and ease of the patient’s home, wherever that may be, including an assisted living facility or nursing home.
Can I receive hospice care in an assisted living or nursing home?
Yes. Our skilled and intuitive team can also provide care in an assisted living or nursing home or any other living situation.
How does hospice work?
A family member is usually the primary caregiver and assists with making care decisions for the patient. Together the family/primary caregiver and hospice team collaborate to create an overall plan that includes treatment, support, personal care, and a number of specialized services for the patient and their family.
When is the right time to involve hospice?
It is always the family’s choice, but the right time may be when the patient’s prognosis is life-limiting (six months or less) and the patient is ready to stop curative treatment.
How can someone get started with hospice care?
To begin hospice care with Hospice Atlanta please give us a call us at (404) 869-3000. We will work with the patient’s physician to confirm hospice care is appropriate at this time.
Does the hospice patient need someone with them at all times?
No. It is not required that someone be with the hospice patient at all times during the earlier stages. During the later stages of care however, it is recommended.
In order to care for a hospice patient at home how many family members/friends will be needed to assist?
When our hospice team develops your care plan they will be able to determine if additional home help from family and friends is necessary. If the patient has extra help from family and friends or not, our staff will visit the home regularly and be available to answer questions and provide support.
Is it difficult to care for a dying loved one at home?
When caring for a dying loved one in the home comes with a lot of changes that be challenging. Some have found it stressful or exhausting especially during the night. Our hospice team is available 24/7 for support when needed.
How much does hospice care cost?
Hospice services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance.
What hospice services are covered under Medicare/Medicaid benefits?
These benefits cover most everything:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Certified nursing assistants
- Chaplains
- Bereavement counselors
- Medical equipment (hospital beds, oxygen, wheelchairs, etc.)
- Medications for pain and symptom control
- Other medications may also be covered
If the situation improves, can the patient leave hospice?
Of course. If the patient’s condition improves, they can return to their regular medical care. And the patient can return back to hospice, as well, as many times as necessary.
Can a hospice patient go to a hospital?
Yes. Patients always have the right to go to the hospital. But there is the possibility it will change the patient’s hospice status. In most cases, an emergency transfer to a hospital is not part of a hospice plan unless it is unrelated to the terminal diagnosis (e.g., a fractured hip, a blood clot). If the patient needs to go to the hospital, the hospice case manager should be immediately notified. The hospice team will work with the family in determining the next steps in the plan of care.
Does hospice speed up dying?
Hospice does nothing to speed up or slow down the process of dying. Hospice care just manages symptoms and discomfort for the best quality of life and to minimize suffering.
What kind of pain management can hospice provide?
Hospice Atlanta nurses have access to and are experts in most state-of-the-art pain and symptom relief. And because an illness also brings on emotional and spiritual pain, we provide counselors and chaplains, as well.
Will medications prevent a hospice patient from being able to talk or know what’s happening?
Not usually. When a patient is in hospice, it is the goal to help them live as actively as possible with little to no pain or discomfort.
Can the patient keep their regular physician when in hospice care?
Yes. Hospice is an extension of the regular medical care. We can also provide a medical doctor, if needed.
Does Hospice Atlanta support the family after the patient is gone?
Yes. Families and friends are supported for at least one year after a loved one’s passing and even longer than that if needed. If you are in need of bereavement support, our Bereavement Coordinators are available by phone (404) 869-3000 for grief support and counseling during regular business hours Monday-Friday.
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Today we pause to honor Juneteenth - a powerful reminder of resilience, freedom, and the continued pursuit of equity. At Visiting Nurse Health System, we recognize this day as more than a historic milestone, more so a call to action to listen, learn, and continue building a community where dignity and compassion are extended to all. Having provided care into the homes of Georgians for 76 years, our mission is rooted in the belief that each individual deserves equal access to quality health care. On this Juneteenth, we reaffirm that belief. Thank you to our community members, supporters and healthcare partners who help us serve with heart and humanity each day. #Juneteenth #EquityInCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #CommunityCare #hospiceatlanta
Happy Father’s Day from Visiting Nurse Health System! 💙
Today we honor fathers, father figures, grandfathers and the fathers who are caregivers -leading lead with love, strength, and quiet dedication at home and in our communities. Thank you for all you do!
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📢 We’re proud to share that Visiting Nurse Health System made front page news this week in Home Health Care News!
📰 Check out the featured article where our President & CEO, Dorothy Davis, talks about the growing financial pressures nonprofit home-based care providers face—especially in a market increasingly shaped by Medicare Advantage.
Dorothy shares insights on how competition for tier 1 patients and reimbursement challenges are shaping the future of care—not just for our patients, but for all of us who may one day need these vital services.
💬 We’re grateful to be part of this important conversation about the sustainability of nonprofit home health—and the critical business drivers that will define its future.
📖 Read the article here 👉https://vnhs.org/news/
#HomeHealthCare #NonprofitLeadership #MedicareAdvantage #ValueBasedCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthCareNews #FutureOfCare
VNHS Spotlight!
We`re pleased to share our award winning Chief Innovation Officer, Jaqueline Ralph-Blair, was honored today with Modern Healthcare’s Leading Woman of 2025 award!
This prestigious award honors 30 leading women and 10 rising stars who are making lasting positive changes to the business of healthcare.
Celebrated today in Chicago at Modern Healthcare’s 15th Annual Leading Women Conference & Awards Luncheon, Jacqueline and her 2025 class of Modern Healthcare`s Leading Women, received a vanguard award honoring their achievements in and contributions to healthcare, to include directing strategic partnerships, designing cutting-edge technologies, and spearheading revenue-boosting initiatives.
Congratulations Jacqueline and THANK YOU for all you do!!
#leadership #CSuite #givingback #healthcare #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta
Today, we remember and honor all who gave their lives in service to our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication will never be forgotten. Forever grateful. 🕊️
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🏌️♀️ We’re proud to be part of a great cause on and off the course!
Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta was honored to participate in and sponsor this year`s LeadingAge Georgia Golf Tournament—an event that brings together healthcare partners and changemakers in senior care.
This tournament helps sustain the vital work of LeadingAge Georgia, empowering member organizations that serve and advocate for our aging population across the state. It’s a privilege to be part of a community so committed to compassionate, quality care for older adults. ⛳️💙
#LeadingAgeGA #GolfForACause #SeniorCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HospiceAtlanta #AgingWithDignity #CommunitySupport
🎉 Please join us in celebrating our Employee of the Month – Dykia Brummitt! 🌟
Dykia’s dedication, compassion, and positive team spirit make a lasting impact on everyone she cares for. Her commitment to our mission and values here at Visiting Nurse Health System shines through in all she does, and we are so grateful to have her on our team. 💙👏
Congratulations, Dykia—you truly embody what it means to provide care with heart! 🏆
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🎉 Celebrating Nurses Month continues with our incredible nursing team at Hospice Atlanta | Visiting Nurse Home Health! 💙🩺Here`s our Home Health team celebrating this week! We’re so proud of our compassionate, dedicated nurses who go above and beyond every day to care for our community in the comfort of their home. Thank you for all that you do! 👏
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We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us last Saturday for Hospice Atlanta`s 3rd Annual Resilience bereavement event. Whether you came to listen, speak, or simply be present, your participation helped create a space of healing, support, and strength.
A special thank you to our incredible speakers, who so generously shared their stories, insights, and compassion. Your words touched many and reminded us all that even in grief, we are not alone.
To every attendee — your presence was powerful. Thank you for showing up for yourselves, and for each other. Together, we honored our losses and found comfort in community. Thank you to our gracious volunteers and staff who supported the event operations. Let’s continue to walk this path together. 💛
#ResilienceEvent #GriefSupport #ThankYou #HealingTogether #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem
💐Happy Mother`s Day!💐
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Happy Nurses Week!
Celebrating this week the incredible dedication, compassion, and resilience of nurses here at Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta and everywhere! 🌟🩺
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, providing unwavering support and care to patients and their families. In 2025, we continue to recognize the vital role they play in our communities and their commitment to improving lives. Let`s take a moment to express our gratitude and appreciation for these healthcare heroes.
Join us in celebrating Nurses Week by sharing a story of a nurse who has inspired you or by simply saying “thank you” to a nurse who has made a difference in your life.
Thank You For All You Do!! Happy Nurses Week! 💙🏥 #nursesweek2025#healthcareheroes#ThankYouNurses#visitingnursehealthsystem#hospiceatlanta
Thank you Mutual of America for a great time celebrating our mission, Healthcare Champions, and new friends of Visiting Nurse at Mercedes Stadium.
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