Before hospice care begins in the home, the hospice team typically coordinates delivery and setup of necessary medical equipment, such as a hospital bed, oxygen supplies, or a wheelchair, so the home is ready before the first visit. This is arranged as part of the hospice admission process, at no direct cost to the family under the Medicare Hospice Benefit for covered items.
A Common Question Families Ask
One of the first practical questions families ask when starting hospice is some version of: “What do we need to buy or set up before care begins?” It’s a fair question, and often a source of unnecessary stress, since many families assume they’ll need to source medical equipment on their own.
In most cases, that’s not how it works. Coordinating equipment is part of what a hospice team handles, not something families are expected to arrange themselves.
What Equipment Is Typically Involved
The specific equipment a patient needs depends on their diagnosis, mobility, and care plan. Common items include:
- Hospital beds, which allow for adjustable positioning and easier caregiving
- Oxygen equipment for patients with respiratory symptoms
- Wheelchairs or transport chairs for patients with limited mobility
- Bedside commodes, to reduce fall risk and ease bathroom access
- Walkers or canes, depending on the patient’s mobility level
- Pressure-relief mattresses or cushions to help prevent skin breakdown for patients who are largely bed-bound
Not every patient needs every item. The hospice team assesses individual needs during the intake process and adjusts the plan as those needs change over time.
How the Setup Process Generally Works
While specifics can vary based on a patient’s location and situation, the general sequence looks like this:
- Assessment during intake. A member of the care team evaluates the patient’s condition, mobility, and home environment to determine what equipment is appropriate.
- Coordination with equipment providers. The hospice team arranges for delivery through its durable medical equipment resources, rather than leaving the family to research and order items independently. You can see the scope of this support on our Durable Medical Equipment page.
- Delivery and setup in the home. Equipment is typically delivered and set up before or very close to the start of hospice care, so the home is prepared when care begins.
- Instructions for the family. Team members walk the family through how to use each piece of equipment safely, including any adjustments or maintenance involved.
- Ongoing adjustments. As a patient’s needs change, equipment can be added, removed, or exchanged, since hospice care plans are reassessed on a regular basis rather than fixed at the outset.
Why This Matters for Families
Families starting hospice are often already managing a lot: appointments, medications, emotional strain, and difficult decisions. Having to also research, purchase, and assemble medical equipment on top of that can add an unnecessary burden at an already difficult time.
By handling equipment logistics directly, the hospice team allows families to focus more on being present with their loved one and less on managing logistics. This is one part of a broader pattern in how hospice care is structured to reduce the burden on family caregivers. Our blog post on how hospice helps families spend less time managing care and more time together goes into more detail on this.
What About Cost?
Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, durable medical equipment related to the patient’s terminal diagnosis is generally covered as part of the hospice plan of care. Coverage specifics can vary based on individual circumstances, so it’s worth confirming details directly with your hospice provider rather than assuming a blanket answer applies to every situation.
What to Expect When Hospice Begins
Equipment setup is just one part of getting started. For a fuller picture of what the first days of hospice typically involve, from the initial assessment to ongoing visits, visit our What to Expect page.
For families who are also weighing how much hands-on support they’ll need day-to-day, our In-Home Caregiving services are often coordinated alongside equipment setup to support a smoother transition into care at home.
Questions Before You Start
If you’re preparing to begin hospice care and have questions about what equipment your loved one may need, our team can walk you through it based on their specific situation. Call Journey Palliative and Hospice at (818) 748-3427, or schedule a consultation to get started.
