When a doctor says hospice may help, most families in Orange County have the same question next: what actually happens now? Knowing what to expect in the first two days can take a lot of worry off your shoulders. Here is what the start of hospice at home usually looks like with Maxcare Hospice.
Hour 0: The first phone call
It starts with a call to (714) 844-7777. You can call us yourself. You don’t have to wait for a doctor to call first. We will ask a few simple questions: who the patient’s doctor is, where they live, and what insurance they have. Most hospice care is covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit, and many Medi-Cal and private plans cover it too. We’ll check coverage for you, so you don’t have to work it out alone.
If it’s evening or the weekend, call anyway. Our nurses are on call 24/7. Our Westminster office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, but patients are cared for around the clock.
Hours 1–24: The admission visit
A registered nurse comes to the home. That might be a house in Garden Grove, an apartment in Santa Ana, or a board-and-care home in Riverside. The nurse will:
- Talk with the patient (when possible) and the family about goals. What matters most right now? Comfort? Staying home? Being awake for visits from grandchildren?
- Go over the consent forms in plain language. Hospice is not a contract you’re locked into. You can stop hospice at any time.
- Check symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, restlessness or trouble sleeping, and start a plan to ease them.
- Tell you how to reach the on-call nurse day or night.
Families often tell us this visit is the first time in weeks they felt someone was really listening.
Hours 24–48: Supplies, medicines, and the team
Within the first day or two, things the patient needs start arriving:
- Equipment such as a hospital bed, wheelchair, oxygen or a bedside commode, delivered to the home.
- Comfort medicines related to the hospice diagnosis, usually covered under the hospice benefit.
- Your care team. Besides your nurse, you’ll meet or hear from a home health aide (help with bathing and personal care), a medical social worker (paperwork, advance directives, family stress), and a chaplain or spiritual care provider if you want one. Volunteers and bereavement support are part of hospice too.
Language and culture matter
Orange County is home to many Vietnamese families. Our care team speaks Vietnamese, so parents and grandparents can talk about pain, fears and wishes in the language they think in. We also have a Korean-speaking nurse. For other languages, we arrange professional interpreter support. We respect each family’s traditions around food, prayer, and who should be present at the end of life.
What families can do in these first days
- Keep a simple notebook. Write down medicine times, symptoms and questions for the nurse.
- Pick one point person to speak with the team, even if the whole family helps.
- Put the on-call number on the fridge. If something changes at 2 AM, call us first. In most cases you won’t need 911.
- Take care of yourself. Caregivers need rest too. Ask about respite care if you’re worn out.
Questions we hear a lot
Does starting hospice mean giving up? No. Hospice shifts the focus to comfort and quality of life. Some patients feel better once their symptoms are well managed.
Can my loved one stay home? Yes. Most of our patients receive care wherever they call home.
How do I know if it’s time? Read our gentle checklist: Is it time for hospice? · Đã đến lúc cần hospice chưa? · ¿Es momento de hospicio?
We’re here when you’re ready
Maxcare Hospice is Medicare-certified (CCN 551689) and ACHC-accredited, based at 13800 Arizona St #201 in Westminster. We serve Orange County, the Inland Empire and South LA County. 78% of families would definitely recommend us (Medicare CAHPS survey, 10/2023–9/2025). Call (714) 844-7777, any time. Our nurses are on call 24/7.
Tóm tắt tiếng Việt
48 giờ đầu tiên khi bắt đầu hospice tại nhà
- Cuộc gọi đầu tiên: Gia đình có thể tự gọi (714) 844-7777 mà không cần chờ bác sĩ. Chúng tôi sẽ kiểm tra bảo hiểm (Medicare, Medi-Cal, bảo hiểm tư) giúp gia đình.
- Trong 24 giờ đầu: Y tá đến tận nhà để hỏi về mong muốn của gia đình, giải thích giấy tờ dễ hiểu (gia đình có thể ngưng hospice bất cứ lúc nào) và bắt đầu kế hoạch giảm đau, giảm khó thở.
- Trong 24–48 giờ: Giường bệnh, oxy và thuốc giảm triệu chứng được giao tận nhà. Gia đình sẽ gặp đội chăm sóc gồm y tá, người phụ tá, nhân viên xã hội và tuyên úy nếu muốn.
- Ngôn ngữ: Đội ngũ của chúng tôi nói tiếng Việt, nên ông bà, cha mẹ có thể nói về cơn đau và mong muốn bằng tiếng mẹ đẻ.
- Giờ làm việc: Y tá trực 24/7. Văn phòng mở cửa Thứ Hai đến Thứ Sáu, 9:00 sáng đến 5:30 chiều.
