Understanding
hospice care.

Both approaches help with symptoms and the stress of serious illness. Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and be provided alongside treatment intended to cure or control the disease. Hospice focuses on comfort when a person is nearing the end of life and chooses that approach. Ask the treating clinician which option fits the person’s goals and current needs.

For Medicare hospice, physicians must certify a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its normal course, and the person must choose the hospice benefit. This is a medical estimate, not a deadline: care may continue beyond six months with ongoing eligibility and recertification. You can ask about an evaluation before a crisis or a final-days decision.

You, a family member, a friend, or a healthcare professional can contact Ave Maria to begin a conversation. Call 830-997-1709 or use our contact or referral page. Tell us where care would take place and what has become difficult. We can explain the next steps, including the medical information needed for an evaluation. Asking for information does not enroll anyone in hospice.

Based in Fredericksburg, Ave Maria serves these nine counties in the Texas Hill Country and surrounding region. A few communities in each county are listed below. Tell us where your loved one lives so we can discuss care at that location. If they live outside our service area, you are still welcome to ask for help understanding possible next steps.

• Bandera CountyBandera · Lakehills · Medina
• Bexar CountySan Antonio · Converse · Universal City
• Blanco CountyBlanco · Johnson City · Round Mountain
• Gillespie CountyFredericksburg · Harper · Stonewall
• Kendall CountyBoerne · Comfort · Kendalia
• Kerr CountyKerrville · Ingram · Hunt
• Kimble CountyJunction · London · Roosevelt
• Llano CountyLlano · Kingsland · Horseshoe Bay
• Mason CountyMason · Pontotoc

Hospice is a service, not a place you must move to. Care can often be provided in a private home, assisted living residence, or nursing facility. Hospice-arranged short-term inpatient care may be needed for symptoms that cannot be managed in the current setting. We will discuss the location, day-to-day caregiving, and any separate facility costs with you.

Ave Maria nurses visit according to the care plan and are available for consultation 24 hours a day. That is different from having a nurse or aide continuously at the bedside. Between routine visits, family, other caregivers, or facility staff usually provide everyday care. If symptoms or caregiving needs change, call the team to reassess the plan and discuss what additional help is appropriate.

Yes. You can choose your regular physician as the attending medical professional involved in hospice care, and Ave Maria consults with your physician as part of the care plan. Share any appointments or treatments you want to continue. Coordinating them with the hospice team helps clarify how they fit your goals and how payment will be handled.

No. The team reviews medicines and treatments with the patient and prescribers, looking at comfort, expected benefit, burdens, and the person’s priorities. Medicines needed for pain and symptom management remain an important part of hospice. Ask how each treatment fits the plan and who will cover it. Do not stop or change a medicine on your own.

Yes. Choosing hospice does not take away your right to change your mind. Under Medicare, you may stop hospice care and may return later if you remain eligible. You may also change hospice providers once during each benefit period. Ask the team to explain the paperwork and coordinate medicines, equipment, and the next care arrangement before a change takes effect.

Medicare Part A covers hospice through a Medicare-approved provider when eligibility requirements are met. Covered hospice services generally have no charge, but limited copayments can apply: up to $5 per outpatient symptom-management prescription and 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite, subject to a limit. Ordinary room and board and unrelated medical care have separate rules. Ask for an explanation of any expected costs.

Ave Maria works with Medicare, Texas Medicaid, and private insurance companies. Your exact plan still needs to be reviewed: network status, authorizations, benefits, and personal costs can vary. Texas Medicaid also has financial and hospice eligibility requirements. Share your current insurance information with our team so we can help clarify coverage before you make a decision; an insurer’s name alone does not guarantee payment.

Yes, you can ask Ave Maria about self-pay care. Before deciding, we encourage you to check any insurance or public benefits that may help. Ask for a written explanation of services, rates, and costs that are separate from hospice. If you are uninsured or not using insurance, you can request a good faith estimate of expected charges.

The Medicare hospice benefit includes equipment, supplies, and symptom-management medicines needed for the terminal illness and related conditions, as arranged in the care plan. It generally does not cover ordinary room and board in a nursing home or assisted living residence. Hospice-arranged, eligible short-term inpatient or respite care is different. Ask the team before purchasing equipment or arranging outside services.

Please tell us when caregiving feels difficult or no longer feels safe. The team can review the care plan, offer teaching, and help discuss additional support. Medicare inpatient respite care, when arranged by hospice, can provide up to five consecutive days in an approved facility to give a caregiver a rest. It is not the same as ongoing round-the-clock help at home.

Yes. Ave Maria welcomes people of every faith tradition, as well as those with no religious affiliation. Spiritual care should reflect the patient’s wishes, beliefs, and sources of comfort. Tell the team whether you would welcome a chaplain, prefer your own faith leader, or do not want spiritual visits. Your preferences belong in the care conversation.

Yes. Ave Maria’s social workers, medical staff, and chaplains can communicate in Spanish. Let us know your preferred language when you contact us so we can plan the conversation appropriately. You are welcome to ask for information to be explained again, invite someone you trust, and take the time you need to understand your options.

Yes. Grief can begin while a loved one is still living, and support can be part of hospice care from the beginning. Medicare-certified hospices must make bereavement services available to family members and others included in the bereavement plan for up to one year after the patient’s death. Ask our team about the support available and referrals if you need additional help.