Find the Level of Care You Need

Levels of Care

We are here for you wherever you are in your journey. For more than 45 years, Hospice of the Western Reserve has provided palliative and end-of-life care, caregiver support, and bereavement services throughout Northern Ohio. 

General In-patient (GIP)

If you or your loved one are experiencing symptoms that cannot be managed at home, we can provide care temporarily at one of our houses. This level of care is called the General Inpatient (GIP) level of care. It is a short-term option that allows your hospice care team to help get pain and symptoms under control. When symptoms have been managed, patients may return to their homes or care facilities. In some cases, returning home may not be an option; your hospice team will try to find a comfortable alternative.

General In-patient care is billed to Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance. There are no room and board charges while a patient remains in GIP care at Hospice of the Western Reserve hospice houses. Some commercial insurers do charge a copay for GIP care.

GIP care is available at all our hospice houses.

GIP care is appropriate for acute pain and symptom management for increased and unrelieved pain, shortness of breath, swelling in hands or feet, fever, diarrhea, nausea or other symptoms of concern. 

A Place Like Home Option in for Final Days

If an illness brings a short life expectancy, there may be a need to move from the hospital or home to one of our hospice houses where 24/7 caregiving is available. Your hospice care team can help you decide if this transition is best. Our hospice houses provide a comfortable, serene location where staff and volunteers are sensitive to the needs and emotions of the entire family.

Eligibility criteria apply to this program. Room and board charges also apply. A signed patient and family patient agreement is required at the time the bed is offered. All our hospice houses offer a home-like option level of care.

Respite Care

Caring for a loved one with a serious illness is often a 24/7 job and can be exhausting for the caregiver. Respite care is available for hospice patients at each of our hospice houses. Respite care allows the caregiver to feel confident that their loved one is getting the best possible 24/7 care while they are tending to their own needs. Respite care is covered by Medicare and Medicaid for up to five days, and many commercial insurance companies also cover respite care. Based on bed availability, patients and families may extend respite care by making arrangements in advance to pay the standard room and board fee. A signed patient and family payment agreement is required at the time an extended respite bed is offered. For more information about respite care, click here. Note, our hospice houses have a limited number of respite beds available.

Routine Home Care (Residential)

Some of our patients transition to residential care once their pain and symptoms are managed. Residential care helps patients who have caregivers who are also infirmed and unable to care for their spouse or family member. It can also be the best option if a patient’s medical conditions are too complex to manage at home. While Medicare/Medicaid benefits cover medical care, they do not cover room and board charges. The daily room and board charges payable to Hospice of the Western Reserve are the responsibility of the patient and family. A signed patient and family payment agreement is required at the time a residential bed is offered.