Hospice and palliative care are essential services for anyone who is entering the last phase of their life. Many senior caregivers may rightly wonder which Delaware hospice and palliative care facilities, companies, and organizations are worth researching and what to consider when looking.
This article will review what makes hospice and palliative care good and list some of Delaware’s highly-rated senior care facilities.
What To Consider When Researching Delaware Hospice and Palliative Care Facilities
There are many things to consider when researching hospice and palliative care facilities. Thankfully, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has a hospice questionnaire people can cross-reference when considering hospice and palliative care options.
A few of the notable questions featured in the NHPCO’s questionnaire are:
- Is the facility for-profit or not-for-profit?
- How many years has it operated?
- Is both palliative and hospice care available?
- Is there an inpatient unit as well as home care?
- Is it Medicare-certified?
To develop this list, I used the above comparison points to determine if the hospice and palliative care facilities were worth considering. (Note that not all providers check all the “boxes.” I didn’t eliminate these providers because I acknowledge a website can only tell you so much. I recommend calling the providers listed to get all the details.) I also researched places that received a rating between 4-5 stars on Google and checked to see if each provider also appeared on the NHPCO’s provider list. (This list is shorter than others in this series because many of the Delaware hospices I found on NHPCO’s list received low Google ratings. Note that three of the hospices listed here got favorable ratings. Two hospices received no ratings.) These hospice and palliative care facilities are not rated in any particular order. As always, with lists such as this, I encourage you and your loved one to do unique online research and to ask a trusted doctor, and possibly a social worker, for their thoughts on hospice and palliative care facilities in your area, too. (Another helpful decision-making tool is Medicare.gov’s provider comparison service.)
Top Hospice And Palliative Care Facilities in Delaware
1. Delaware Hospice, Milford
The Delaware Hospice, Milford office received a 4.1 cumulative rating on Google (21 reviews listed). This hospice serves three areas in the state. It has a state license (in Delaware and Pennsylvania), is Medicare-certified, and is accredited by The Joint Commission. Delaware Hospice has operated since 1982 and provides various levels of care:
- Home-based hospice care
- Care at the Delaware Hospice Center
- Palliative care at Delaware Palliative
- Delaware Transitions (“nonmedical help accessing resources to cope with serious illness”)
- Various children’s programs
- Grief support
Delaware Hospice states that it’s a “nonprofit community-based healthcare organization.” This hospice also is a part of:
- The Delaware Quality of Life Coalition
- Alliance Kids (for its Katybug pediatric program)
- The Center to Advance Palliative Care (for its Delaware Palliative program)
In addition to providing general hospice care (patients have a medical doctor, registered nurse, social worker, etc.), veterans also get access to “grants and generous community funding” to receive “special support” during care.
2. Delaware Hospice, Inc. – Delaware Office, Newark
The Newark office of Delaware Hospice serves four areas in the state and received a 4.1 cumulative rating on Google (14 reviews listed). All information for this hospice is the same as the information noted in this list’s first entry (Delaware Hospice, Milford).
3. Delaware Hospice, Inc. – Dover Office
The Dover office of Delaware Hospice serves four areas in the state and received a 4.2 cumulative rating on Google (5 reviews listed). All information for this hospice is the same as the information noted in this list’s first entry (Delaware Hospice, Milford).
4. Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice (no Google ratings)
Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice serves one area in the state. It’s state-licensed, Medicare-certified, and accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP). The hospice’s website also states it’s accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). Heartland is owned by ProMedica Senior Care (formerly HCR ManorCare), which was founded in 1986. ProMedica Senior Care is not-for-profit, and it also provides palliative care. I could not determine if this hospice provides care where a patient “lives” (at home, assisted living, etc.) or if inpatient care is provided.
5. Acts Signature Hospice (no Google ratings)
Acts Signature Hospice is located in Hockessin, Delaware. This hospice service also has locations in other states. Acts is Medicare-certified and has accreditation through the ACHC. I could not determine if this hospice has a state license. This hospice provides standard medical care, but I could not determine where care is provided (in-home only, a standalone facility). I also could not determine if Acts provides palliative care. I found conflicting information about the hospice’s not-for-profit status. However, I tend to trust the organization’s LinkedIn profile (which states Acts is not for profit) rather than the information hub service linked above. The organization itself was founded in 1971. However, I’m not sure if this is the same date this organization’s hospice was founded.
