You want a clear plan that keeps your loved one comfortable and your family steady. In Orange County, hospice care is organized into four levels that fit real life: Routine Home Care, Continuous Home Care, General Inpatient Care, and Respite Care. Think of this as a roadmap. You stay the hero who knows your loved one best.
We serve as your guide who explains what each level means, when it applies, and how coverage typically works in homes, assisted living communities, nursing facilities, and hospitals across the county. As needs change, the level of care can change too, so you are never stuck with one option. By the end of this guide, you will know which level to ask for today and what to expect tomorrow, with steps that protect comfort, dignity, and peace.
- Routine Home Care in Orange County. Routine home care is the most common level of hospice care. You receive regular visits at home from a nurse, hospice aide, social worker, chaplain, and other team members. “Home” can mean a private residence, assisted living, or a nursing facility in Orange County. The goal is steady symptom control and support for daily life so you can remain where you feel most comfortable.
What you can expect- Nursing visits focused on pain and symptom relief
- Help with bathing and personal care from hospice aides
- Medication management and equipment coordination
- Emotional and spiritual support for you and your family
- Care planning that adapts as needs change
Many Orange County families start here and move up or down between levels as needs change. That flexibility is built into Medicare’s hospice structure.
- Nursing visits focused on pain and symptom relief
- Continuous Home Care During a Crisis. Continuous home care is short-term, intensive support at home during a symptom crisis. It is designed for situations that would otherwise require inpatient care, but you prefer to stay at home while the team stabilizes symptoms. Care is provided for at least eight hours within a 24-hour period, and more than half of those hours are delivered by a nurse.
When this level may be used- Severe, unrelenting pain or respiratory distress
- Uncontrolled nausea or vomiting
- Acute anxiety, agitation, or other symptoms that cannot wait for routine visits
What you can expect - Extended bedside nursing to bring symptoms back under control
- Real-time coordination with your hospice physician
- A plan to step back down to routine home care once stable
Families often tell us this level brings relief without an immediate transfer out of the home. The care team works alongside your family to steady the situation.
- Severe, unrelenting pain or respiratory distress
- General Inpatient Care for Complex Symptoms. General inpatient care, sometimes called GIP, happens in a hospital, hospice facility, or skilled nursing facility when symptoms cannot be managed safely at home. The focus is rapid stabilization with 24-hour nursing and medical oversight. Once symptoms improve, most patients transition back to routine home care.
What you can expect- Round-the-clock nursing and access to IV medications and specialized interventions
- Daily physician involvement for faster adjustments
- Support for family members with flexible visiting and coaching on next steps
Payers follow the same four-level structure. Some plans require prior authorization for inpatient care, which your hospice coordinates.
- Round-the-clock nursing and access to IV medications and specialized interventions
- Respite Care to Support Caregivers. Respite care is a short-term inpatient stay, generally up to five days, that gives family caregivers a needed break. Your loved one receives the same compassionate hospice support in a Medicare-approved setting while you rest, travel, or handle urgent tasks. Afterward, your loved one returns home and back to routine care.
What you can expect- A planned stay with continued symptom management
- Help with personal care, comfort, and activities
- A clear discharge plan and follow-up at home
- A planned stay with continued symptom management
How the Four Levels Work Together
You are not locked into one level. Hospice adjusts your level based on current needs. Many Orange County families start with routine home care, shift to continuous home care during a flare, use inpatient care if symptoms remain difficult, then return home. This fluid approach is part of the Medicare hospice benefit and helps match support to what is happening today.
Eligibility, Coverage, and Costs in Orange County
- Eligibility: Hospice is for people with a life-limiting illness and a physician’s certification that life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its usual course. Understand what hospice eligibility means and see who qualifies for Medicare-covered hospice, read: Medicare and Hospice Eligibility in Orange County
- Coverage: Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most private plans cover hospice using the same four levels. Room and board are usually not covered in long-term facility settings unless care is inpatient. Your hospice team explains any coinsurance for respite and handles authorizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hospice care happen in assisted living or a nursing home in Orange County?
Yes. Routine and continuous home care can be provided in those settings because Medicare defines them as the patient’s “home” for hospice purposes.
How quickly can levels change?
Levels can change the same day if needed. Your nurse and physician adjust the plan and coordinate any transfer.
Will we lose our regular nurse if we move to inpatient care?
Your core hospice team follows your loved one across settings. The inpatient team adds 24-hour support until symptoms settle.
What To Do Next
- Call to Talk Through Symptoms. A hospice nurse will listen, answer questions, and match the right level of care today. Call (714) 844-7777. You can also reach us online.
- Ask About Caregiver Relief. If you feel exhausted or burned out, we can check eligibility for short-term respite and set up a plan that gives you a real break.
- Share Your Goal and Preferences. Tell us what comfort looks like, any faith or cultural needs, daily routines that matter, and where you want care to happen. Your goals guide every decision.
- Discuss Where Care Will Take Place. Home, assisted living, a nursing facility, or hospital in Orange County are all options. We will coordinate the safest setting based on current symptoms.
- Plan the Next Step Together. We will outline what to expect this week, how levels can change if needs shift, and who to contact anytime, day or night.
Get the Right Level of Hospice Care in Orange County
Whether your loved one is in Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Westminster, or a nearby city, we can provide the right level of care wherever they call home. Talk to our hospice team now at (714) 844-7777. We offer all four Medicare-defined levels of hospice care to match your loved one’s changing needs. Explore our page to discover more services we offer.
