Caring House is a home where men and women receive care at the end of their lives. That’s our focus. Our residents receive hospice services from visiting hospice agencies. But are we a “hospice house” or “hospice home” or “hospice facility”?
- The dictionary and roots of the word “hospice” give you a focus on a place of shelter, rest or refuge.
- Another meaning of hospice, however, is a medical service for those who are terminally ill. Dozens of hospice agencies provide that medical service to patients in the South Bay. Our hospice directory names some of them. Caring House doesn’t fit that focus because we’re not a medical service.
So when some people call us a hospice house or a hospice home or a hospice facility—in one sense they’re right. We are a place of shelter, rest or refuge.
But in another sense, Caring House does not fit that definition: we’re not a medical facility or service. And the distinction is quite strong under the California licensing rules. Those rules distinguish between:
- A medical facility providing hospice services itself. These facilities typically are operated by hospice agencies. Legally, they can call themselves a hospice facility or hospice home.
- A non-medical home like Caring House, where outside hospice agencies visit the residents. These homes cannot legally call themselves a hospice facility or hospice home.
So, Caring House itself is not a hospice facility or hospice house and is not licensed as a hospice facility, service or agency under California or Federal law. We’re a home where residents receive care at the ends of their lives. We’re a home that welcomes residents who receive hospice services from visiting hospice agencies.
Oh, and by the way. We never call Caring House a “facility.” Facility sounds institutional, not at all like home. We call Caring House a home—come visit, and we think you’ll see why.
Words from others
A resident’s wife recently said, “It’s the best place to go before you go to heaven.”
Another supporter said, “It’s a place that helps families be families at the end of life.”
Have you experienced Caring House? Share your words below . . .