For families caring for someone on hospice
Your loved one is on hospice, or about to be. Here's what to expect.
The plain-language guide for families: what Medicare covers, how to choose a provider, comfort care at home, and what the final days look like. Written by a hospice intake specialist.
- Know what to ask before you sign anything
- Understand what Medicare pays for, and what it doesn't
- Feel less afraid of the final weeks and days
$12.99paperback
12 chapters
+ worksheets & glossary
PDF: if it doesn't help, email us within 30 days for a full refund.
Not ready to buy? Read a free chapter first
“This really helped me and my family navigate the complicated process and brought simplicity to this time in our lives.”
Amazon reviewThis guide is for you if…
- A doctor or nurse just brought up hospice, and you don't know where to start.
- Your mom, dad, spouse, or grandparent is already on hospice, at home or in a facility.
- You're the one making the calls, signing the papers, and keeping the family updated.
- You want to know what's coming, so it's less frightening when it does.
You don't need a medical background. Just a few quiet minutes.
When someone says “hospice,” everything moves fast.
- There's paperwork to sign at the very first visit, and it feels like there's no time to read it.
- People use words like “revocation,” “levels of care” and “the six-month rule,” and nobody stops to explain.
- And no one tells you what the last weeks and days will actually look like.
This guide slows it down, one plain step at a time.
After reading it, you'll be able to…
Each one is a chapter written for families, not clinicians.
- Understand what Medicare pays for, and what it doesn'tChapter 3
- Know whether your person qualifies, and what the six-month rule really meansChapter 2
- Choose a hospice with confidence, using the questions that matterChapter 6 · plus a side-by-side comparison worksheet
- Know who to call, and when, if something changes at homeChapter 7
- Give comfort at the bedside: pain medicine, breathing, mouth care and restChapter 10
- Recognize the signs of the final weeks and days, so they're less frighteningChapter 11
- Take care of yourself while you take care of themChapter 9 · plus the Caregiver Comfort Corner
- Know what happens at the time of death, and what to do nextChapter 12
Look inside
Short chapters, plain words, and pages you can print and fill in.
Free chapter
Not sure yet? Read the First 72 Hours chapter free.
Chapter 5 walks you from the first phone call to the admission visit: what you'll be asked to sign, and what the first days usually look like. It comes with the one-page First 72 Hours sheet for your fridge.
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Here it is. We've also emailed you a copy, along with the free Hospice Decision Checklist.
Open the free chapter (PDF)Free. You'll also get Sitting With You, our short Thursday letter. Unsubscribe anytime.
Everything you get
One book you can keep by the bed and pass to family. Prefer it on your phone? The PDF has everything too.
- The Hospice Guide: 12 chaptersFrom the first conversation to the final days, in plain language.
- 5 printable worksheetsProvider Comparison, First 72 Hours, Family Planner, Medication Log, Caregiver Support.
- The Caregiver Comfort CornerEasy meals for hard weeks, breathing for anxious moments, gentle stretches, a journal page, and puzzles.
- A glossary of hospice wordsThe words people use at hospice meetings, explained simply.
- Paperback or instant PDFThe same book either way. The PDF comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
All of it in the paperback for $12.99
Need it tonight? Instant PDF, $9
The worksheets
Print them, fill them in, and keep them by the bed or on the fridge.
See all 12 chapters
- 1What Hospice Actually Means
- 2Eligibility and the Six-Month Rule
- 3What Medicare Actually Covers
- 4What Hospice Actually Provides
- 5From Referral to the First 72 Hours
- 6Choosing a Hospice Provider
- 7Emergencies, Crises, and When to Call
- 8Making Steady Decisions
- 9Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver
- 10Comfort Care at the BedsideNEW
- 11The Final Weeks and DaysNEW
- 12What Happens at the Time of Death
Included
The Caregiver Comfort Corner
A few pages that ask nothing of you: easy meals for hard weeks, breathing for anxious moments, gentle stretches, a journal page, and puzzles for quiet breaks.
What readers are saying
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon · 15,000+ followers on Facebook
★★★★★ Just what we needed
“Straight language that's clear and concise. Very valuable information in deciding to use hospice. It answered so many questions we had.”
Amazon review★★★★★ Helpful and very clearly explained
“It did a great job breaking hospice down in a way that's simple and easy to understand, especially eligibility and Medicare coverage. I've already found myself using some of the explanations when speaking with families.”
Amazon review · from someone who works in hospice intake★★★★★ Super helpful
“This really helped me and my family navigate the complicated process and brought simplicity to this time in our lives. Plus, it has printable checklists for you to use throughout the process.”
Amazon review★★★★★ Important addition to the world of hospice
“A concise, on-point, excellently written discussion of all things hospice. I believe this guide will become the standard.”
Amazon review · Verified purchase
Paperback or PDF?
Same book, two ways to read it.
Paperback
$12.99
- A book to hold and keep by the bed
- Easy to give to a family member
- Includes all 5 worksheets
- Ships from Amazon
Instant PDF
$9
- Read it tonight
- On your phone, tablet or computer
- Print any page or worksheet
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Our promise
If the PDF doesn't help, email us within 30 days for a full refund. No questions asked. Refund policy
Questions
What is a PDF, and how do I get it?
A PDF is the book as a file you can open on any phone, tablet, or computer, and print at home. Right after checkout you can download it, and a download link is emailed to you so you can come back to it anytime.
Will it work on my phone?
Yes. It opens in your phone's built-in viewer, just like a photo or an email attachment. You can zoom in to make the text bigger, and print it later if you'd like.
Can I print it?
Yes. It's formatted as a full-size 8.5 × 11 book, so any page prints cleanly. Most families print the worksheets and the First 72 Hours reference and keep them by the bed.
What if it isn't right for us?
If the guide doesn't help, email us within 30 days of buying the PDF for a full refund. No questions asked.
Who wrote it?
Joanne Parker, a hospice intake specialist. She wrote it from the questions families ask at the very start, when everything is new and there's too much to take in.
Is this medical advice?
No. It's plain-language education so you can understand what's happening and ask better questions. Your hospice team and physician are always the ones to ask about your person's specific care.
Caring at home? Keep track of comfort, doses, calls and handoffs in the Hospice Comfort & Care Log. The guide explains; the log tracks.
See the Care Log →Not ready for the whole book? Start with the free Hospice Decision Checklist.
Get the free checklist →Have the whole map before you need it.
Keep the paperback by the bed, or read the PDF on your phone tonight.
Ships from AmazonPDF: 30-day money-back guarantee
Educational information, not medical advice. The Hospice Guide helps you understand hospice and ask better questions. Your hospice team and doctor know your person's situation and should guide care decisions.