If your loved one is being discharged from a Pasadena hospital and hospice has been recommended, you want comfort in place fast. This family friendly guide explains exactly how to start hospice care in Pasadena within 24 hours. You will see the steps from referral through the first nurse visit, how durable medical equipment arrives, and what to expect on the first day at home.

Who This Guide Is For

• You live in or near Pasadena and a clinician has suggested hospice care.
• Your loved one prefers to be at home and you want to know how quickly hospice can start.
• You want plain language answers about admissions, equipment, medications, and support.

What “Admission Within 24 Hours” Really Means

Admission within 24 hours means your loved one can be evaluated for hospice eligibility promptly, paperwork can be completed, essential equipment can be ordered, and clinical care can begin with a plan that matches your goals. Timing depends on eligibility and safety at home, but your hospice team coordinates closely with the hospital so the transition is calm and organized.

Common milestones in the first day

• Eligibility review and verbal consent
  
• Initial nurse visit and safety check at home
  
• Equipment orders placed and scheduled for delivery
  
• First medication plan started with clear teaching
  
• A written Plan of Care created with you
  

If a brief inpatient stay is safer to stabilize symptoms, your team will explain General Inpatient Care and help you return home once your loved one is comfortable.

The 24 hour Timeline for Hospice Care in Pasadena

Hour 0 to 2: Referral and eligibility check

• The hospital case manager or physician sends a referral
• A hospice nurse reviews diagnosis, recent changes, and goals of care with you by phone.
• You receive a simple explanation of hospice coverage. The hospice benefit is part of Medicare for most people. Read more on the Medicare hospice benefit page.
• If your loved one appears eligible and you agree to continue, an admission visit is scheduled at home or at the bedside.

Hour 2 to 6: Admission visit and safety plan

• The admitting nurse meets you at home or in the hospital before discharge.
• You review preferences, current medications, mobility, and comfort goals.
• The nurse confirms which equipment is needed. A hospital bed, oxygen, bedside commode, or wheelchair may be ordered.
• You receive the on call number and know who to contact if symptoms change after hours.

Hour 6 to 12: Equipment and comfort setup

• Durable Medical Equipment is coordinated for delivery to the home. Delivery times vary, and many families receive key items the same day.
• The nurse teaches positioning, turning, and comfort techniques.
• A hospice aide schedule is discussed if personal care support would help.
• The social worker and chaplain are introduced so you have emotional and spiritual support as you settle in.

Hour 12 to 24: First full day at home on hospice

• Your first full day at home focuses on comfort and confidence.
  
• Medications are reviewed and adjusted to match symptoms.
  
• The Plan of Care lists who will visit, what to watch for, and how to reach the team.
  
• If symptoms suddenly worsen, the team may recommend Continuous Home Care for short term intensive support at home, or a short General Inpatient stay for rapid stabilization, with a plan to return home.

What You Can Do Before Discharge

Create a simple home setup

• Choose a quiet, well lit room with space for a hospital bed if ordered.
• Gather two sets of clean linens and a waterproof mattress protector.
• Clear pathways for a wheelchair and walker.

Collect key documents

• Photo ID, insurance card, advance directive or POLST if available, and current medication list.
• A short list of your loved one’s top three goals, such as staying comfortable at home, sleeping through the night, or being pain free enough to visit with family.

Assign roles

• Identify who answers the phone, who is present for the first visit, and who can cover short breaks for the primary caregiver.
  
• Place the hospice call number on the refrigerator and in a mobile phone.

How Equipment and Supplies Arrive in Pasadena

Most families ask about equipment first because it affects comfort right away. Your nurse will order only what helps today, then add items as needs change.

Common equipment

• Hospital bed with rails
• Pressure relieving mattress
• Oxygen concentrator and backup tank if needed
• Bedside commode or urinal
• Wheelchair or walker

How delivery works

• Orders are placed during the admission process.
• The equipment vendor schedules delivery and setup at your home.
• The nurse confirms safety and shows you how to use each item.
• When equipment is no longer needed, the vendor arranges pickup.

Medications and Comfort Kits

Your hospice team works with the physician to order medications that match the symptoms you are seeing now. If a comfort kit is appropriate, it may include small amounts of common medications to ease pain, breathlessness, anxiety, and nausea. The nurse will explain when to use these and how to keep them secure. If you have questions overnight, call the on call nurse for guidance before giving anything new.

Your Hospice Team in the First Week

• Nurse: Adjusts medications, monitors pain and breathing, and teaches practical comfort skills.
• Hospice Aide: Supports bathing, grooming, and skin care to prevent sores.
• Social Worker: Helps with resources, caregiving support, and family conversations.
• Chaplain: Offers spiritual support that respects your beliefs.
• Volunteers: May provide companionship as available.
  

Visits are scheduled to match your needs. Frequency can increase during a rough stretch and step back when things are stable.

Pasadena Specific Questions Families Ask

• Can hospice begin if my loved one is still in the hospital today?
  Yes. An admission nurse can meet you at the bedside to start the process. If you prefer to complete admission at home, we will coordinate closely with the case manager so discharge is smooth.
• Can equipment get to our Pasadena home the same day?
  Often yes for common items like a hospital bed or oxygen, subject to vendor availability and time of day. Your nurse will update you on delivery timing and help you prepare the room.
• What if symptoms are intense the first night at home?
  Call the on call number. A nurse will talk with you right away. We can visit, adjust medications, and consider Continuous Home Care if a short period of intensive support is needed.
• Will we see the same people regularly?
  Your core team remains your team. Schedules and needs may change, but you will know who to expect and how to reach them.

A Simple Checklist For The First 24 Hours

• Confirm hospice eligibility and sign consent.
• Place the on call number in a visible spot.
• Decide which room will be the primary care space.
• Review the Plan of Care and the visit schedule.
• Learn how to use the bed, oxygen, or commode if delivered.
• Know the early signs that mean you should call: new agitation, rising pain, trouble breathing, repeated vomiting, or sudden confusion.

When a Higher Level of Care Might Help

If symptoms are not controlled despite new orders, your team may recommend a temporary change in level of care. This is flexible and based on what helps your loved one most.

• Continuous Home Care: Time limited intensive nursing at home during a crisis.
• General Inpatient Care: Short stay in a contracted hospital or inpatient unit for IV medications or continuous monitoring.
• Respite Care: A short facility stay when your primary caregiver needs rest.

To understand all four levels, read Hospice Levels of Care after you arrange the first visit. For a fuller overview of services, visit Hospice Care Services.

Hospice Care in Pasadena CA: Start Compassionate Care Today

If you need hospice care in Pasadena or nearby Los Angeles County communities, we can help you move from hospital discharge to comfort at home within 24 hours when appropriate. Call (818) 748-3427 to speak with a caring professional who will listen, confirm next steps, and coordinate equipment and visits for your loved one in Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Clarita, Long Beach, and surrounding areas.