“Six months” is the phrase that worries Cypress families most. People hear it and think hospice has an expiration date, or that choosing hospice means a countdown has started. Neither is quite right. Medicare’s rules are built in periods, and many people receive hospice care longer than six months.
Maxcare Hospice is a Vietnamese American family-owned hospice based in Westminster, a short drive from Cypress. Since 2011 we’ve cared for Orange County families, including neighborhoods near Cypress College and along Lincoln Avenue and Valley View Street.
Vietnamese-speaking care team · Đội ngũ chăm sóc nói tiếng Việt
Nurses, aides and staff who speak Vietnamese · Y tá, phụ tá và nhân viên nói tiếng Việt
Call / Gọi: (714) 844-7777 · Line answered live 24/7 · Luôn có người nghe máy 24/7
How benefit periods work
According to medicare.gov:
- Hospice care is given in two 90-day benefit periods, followed by an unlimited number of 60-day benefit periods.
- To begin, the hospice doctor and your regular doctor (if you have one) certify that your loved one is terminally ill, with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its usual course.
- After six months, hospice can continue as long as the hospice medical director or hospice doctor recertifies that the person is still terminally ill. That recertification follows a face-to-face meeting with a hospice doctor or hospice nurse practitioner.
What if your loved one gets stronger?
It happens. With good symptom control and steady support at home, some people stabilize. If a person no longer meets the criteria, they can leave hospice, and they can come back later if their health declines. People can also choose to stop hospice at any time to pursue treatment aimed at a cure.
Changing hospices
Medicare gives you the right to change your hospice provider once during each benefit period. We hope you never need it, but it’s good to know you have choices.
Hospitals near Cypress
Many Cypress families talk about hospice for the first time at UCI Health – Los Alamitos or La Palma Intercommunity Hospital. We name them only as nearby hospitals. Maxcare isn’t affiliated with either.
Our team is based in nearby Westminster, where we provide hospice care in Westminster, and we also care for families who need hospice care in Garden Grove.
Caregiver support in Cypress
The Cypress Senior Center on Grindlay Street hosts free HICAP Medicare counseling on the second Tuesday of each month, according to the City of Cypress. A HICAP counselor can explain hospice rules with no sales pitch, which some families find reassuring.
Why families call Maxcare
- Vietnamese American family-owned, in Westminster since 2011.
- Medicare-certified and ACHC-accredited.
- A live person answers 24/7.
- Vietnamese-speaking nurses, aides and staff.
- You can call us yourself; we check eligibility and work with your doctor.
Why it can help to call sooner
Hospice isn’t only for the last few days. When families call earlier, there’s more time to get symptoms under control, settle into a routine with the nurses and aides, and talk about what matters most while your loved one can still take part. Calling early doesn’t mean starting right away. It means you have information when you need it.
Helpful links
Have questions about how long hospice lasts for someone in Cypress? Ask us here.
Maxcare Hospice
13800 Arizona St #201, Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 844-7777
Open 24 hours, 7 days · A live person answers 24/7
Vietnamese-speaking hospice care in Cypress
Medicare’s hospice rules, like benefit periods and recertification, can be confusing in a second language. Maxcare Hospice’s nurses (RN and LVN), aides, administrators and office staff speak Vietnamese, and we can explain how hospice works for your loved one in Vietnamese or English. Cypress is a short drive from our Westminster office. We care for patients at home, in assisted living, board-and-care homes and nursing homes across the city, and a live person answers 24/7.
Đọc bằng tiếng Việt: Chăm sóc hospice tại Cypress
Vietnamese-speaking hospice in Cypress: common questions
Is there Vietnamese-speaking hospice care in Cypress?
Yes. Maxcare Hospice has Vietnamese-speaking nurses, aides and office staff, and we care for patients at home in Cypress and in nearby Buena Park, La Palma, Los Alamitos and Stanton. Our office is at 13800 Arizona St #201, Westminster.
Can my family call directly, or do we need a doctor’s referral?
Your family can call (714) 844-7777 directly. We check eligibility and work with your doctor. A doctor still needs to certify eligibility before hospice begins.
Who pays for hospice?
Medicare Part A covers hospice for patients who qualify. Call us to ask about your coverage.
Will someone answer at night or on weekends?
Yes. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. A live person answers (714) 844-7777.
