Hospice teams visit, but they do not stay. At home, the 24-hour care falls on the family. When that becomes too much, you have options, and choosing one is not abandoning anyone.
Short-term relief
Medicare's hospice benefit includes inpatient respite care, a short stay of up to five days in a Medicare-approved facility so the caregiver can rest. Ask your hospice team how to arrange it.
Moving to a care home
In California, a licensed board and care home can keep a resident who is on hospice when it has a hospice waiver from the Department of Social Services. Your hospice agency continues to provide the hospice care, and the home provides the room, meals, and caregivers around the clock. Many families find a small home quieter and more personal than a hospital.
What Medicare does and does not pay
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice services, medications and equipment related to the terminal illness. It does not pay room and board in a care home. Families usually pay the home's monthly rate.
Our own homes hold hospice waivers. We can often confirm a hospice-approved bed within a day or two.
Reviewed October 2, 2026. General information, not medical or legal advice. Talk with your loved one's doctor about their health.