McAllen Senior AdvisorWhat is hospice care?
Hospice is comfort-focused care for a person whose physician certifies a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course, delivered by a team of nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers wherever the person lives.
HHSC lists 52 licensed hospices with offices in Hidalgo County, mostly in McAllen and Edinburg, and hospices based elsewhere in the Valley also serve the county.
Who pays for hospice in the Valley?
The Medicare hospice benefit pays for hospice services, medications related to the terminal illness, equipment and supplies, and Texas Medicaid covers hospice for members as well; neither pays room and board in a nursing home or assisted living.
A patient can stop hospice and return to curative treatment at any time, and can change hospices once in each benefit period.
How do we choose a hospice in McAllen?
Ask how quickly a nurse responds at night and on weekends, how often the nurse and aide visit, whether chaplains and social workers speak Spanish, what respite the hospice offers the family, and whether it has served patients in your parent's setting before.
A family can ask the doctor or hospital for a referral but may choose any licensed, Medicare-certified hospice that serves the area.
When should a Valley family consider hospice?
Consider hospice when treatment is no longer helping, hospital visits are becoming frequent, or the person has said they want comfort rather than more aggressive care; a doctor can certify eligibility and the hospice team can visit to explain the benefit.
Many families wait until the final days and later wish they had started sooner, when the team could help with symptoms, equipment, emotional support and planning for longer. Hospice also supports the family for months after a death.
Where are licensed hospice providers in Hidalgo County?
HHSC's records show 52 licensed hospice providers in Hidalgo County, 21 in McAllen, 9 in Edinburg, 7 in Weslaco, 5 in Mission, 2 in La Joya, 2 in San Juan.
| City | Licensed providers | Licensed capacity |
|---|---|---|
| McAllen | 21 | — |
| Edinburg | 9 | — |
| Weslaco | 7 | — |
| Mission | 5 | — |
| La Joya | 2 | — |
| San Juan | 2 | — |
| Alamo | 2 | — |
| Pharr | 2 | — |
| Edcouch | 1 | — |
| Donna | 1 | — |
Every one is on the roster.
Side by side
| Hospice provides | Hospice does not provide | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Comfort, symptom control and family support | Curative treatment of the terminal illness |
| Place | Care at home or in a facility | Facility room and board |
| Team | Nurses, aides, social workers and chaplains | Round-the-clock private duty |
Sources: Texas Health and Safety Code ch. 247 and 242; 26 TAC chapters 553, 554, 558 and 559; HHSC directories, TULIP and handbooks; CMS; CareScout; VA rate tables, as cited above. See our editorial standards.
