This post is written for families navigating hospice care, one of the most difficult and emotionally charged experiences any family goes through. We want to give you clear, accurate information about what to expect with medical equipment so you can focus your energy on being present with your loved one rather than on logistics and paperwork.
If you're a hospice professional looking for operational guidance, we'd direct you to our other resources on formulary management, vendor strategy, and cost benchmarking.
When your loved one enters hospice, the hospice organization is responsible for providing all medical equipment related to their terminal diagnosis. You don't need to shop for equipment, negotiate with vendors, or manage deliveries. The hospice team, typically the nurse and social worker, will assess what your loved one needs and arrange for delivery.
Hospital bed. A full-electric or semi-electric hospital bed allows your loved one to be repositioned easily, reducing discomfort and the risk of pressure injuries. The hospice may also provide an appropriate mattress, often a pressure-relieving overlay, and bed rails if needed for safety.
Oxygen equipment. If your loved one experiences shortness of breath, the hospice will arrange oxygen delivery. This typically includes a stationary concentrator for use in the main living or sleeping area, a portable tank or concentrator for moving around the home, a backup supply, and a humidifier to reduce dryness. The hospice physician or nurse will determine the type and flow rate.
Wheelchair or mobility aid. If your loved one can still move around with assistance, a wheelchair, walker, or transfer aid may be ordered. These items help preserve your loved one's mobility and independence for as long as possible.
Commode. A bedside commode is among the most important and most used pieces of hospice equipment. It allows your loved one to use the toilet safely without making the full trip to the bathroom, protecting dignity and reducing fall risk.
Bathroom safety equipment. Grab bars, shower chairs, and tub transfer benches may be provided to make bathing safer. If your loved one is no longer able to shower, a bath basin and supplies for bed bathing may be arranged.
Overbed table and positioning aids. An overbed table allows your loved one to eat, read, or use personal items from bed. Positioning wedges and pillows help with comfort and pressure relief.
Medical supplies. The hospice benefit covers medical supplies related to the terminal diagnosis, including dressings for wound care, incontinence supplies, gloves, and other items your loved one's care requires. These are typically delivered on a schedule with the option to request more as needed.
For most families, yes. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, all covered equipment and supplies related to the terminal diagnosis are provided at no cost to your loved one or your family. Medicare pays the hospice a daily rate that covers all care, including equipment.
There are a few situations where costs might arise:
Equipment for unrelated conditions. If your loved one needs equipment for a medical condition that isn't related to their terminal diagnosis, for example, a CPAP machine for sleep apnea when the terminal diagnosis is cancer, that equipment may not be covered under the hospice benefit. It may continue to be covered under Medicare Part B (your loved one's regular Medicare benefit), or the family may need to pay out-of-pocket.
Upgrades beyond clinical necessity. The hospice provides equipment that meets the clinical need. If a family requests a more expensive or premium version of covered equipment, a higher-end adjustable bed, for example, the hospice may provide the clinically appropriate item, and the family would be responsible for any upgrade cost.
Private-pay hospice. If your loved one is in a private-pay hospice rather than a Medicare-certified program, coverage varies. Ask the hospice to be specific about what is and isn't included.
This is one of the questions families ask most often, and one of the most important to understand before your loved one's first night at home with hospice.
Most hospices distinguish between routine and urgent equipment orders. Routine equipment, items ordered at or before admission, typically arrives within 24 hours and often on the same day as the admission assessment. Urgent equipment, items needed immediately for patient safety or symptom management, should be available within a few hours, including evenings and weekends.
The quality of equipment delivery varies by hospice and by the hospice's vendor network. If you have concerns about equipment timing, particularly for oxygen or a hospital bed, ask the hospice team directly at admission: "When will the equipment arrive, and who do we call if it doesn't?"
If equipment you were told to expect hasn't arrived, contact your hospice nurse or the after-hours line immediately. The hospice is responsible for resolving delivery delays, and a good hospice team will escalate promptly when equipment isn't where it should be.
When your loved one passes away or is discharged from hospice, the hospice coordinates the return of all hospice-provided equipment. You don't need to arrange pickup, the hospice's vendor will contact you, typically within a few days, to schedule collection of the bed, oxygen equipment, wheelchair, and any other items.
This is sometimes a difficult moment for families. Equipment that supported your loved one's comfort may feel significant. Some families find it helpful to have a clear understanding before the passing that equipment pickup is a standard part of the process, arranged by the hospice team, not the family's responsibility to initiate.
If you need a few extra days before equipment is picked up, it is reasonable to ask the hospice team for a brief delay. Most vendors can accommodate a short extension when requested through the hospice.
While the hospice manages equipment logistics, families can do several things to make the process go more smoothly:
Provide accurate delivery information. Make sure the hospice has the correct address, including apartment or unit number, gate codes, and any access instructions. Equipment delivery delays are often caused by address errors.
Clear space for equipment. Hospital beds require floor space, often more than families anticipate. Before the bed arrives, move furniture to create a clear path from the door to where the bed will be placed.
Know who to call. At admission, ask the hospice team for the specific number to call if equipment has a problem, a concentrator alarm, a bed that won't adjust, a supply that's running low. Having this information in advance avoids frantic searching during a stressful moment.
Tell the hospice team when something changes. If your loved one's condition changes, less mobile, more short of breath, new symptom, tell the nurse at the next visit. Equipment needs change with the patient's condition, and the clinical team may be able to order additional items that would help.
Can we request specific brands or types of equipment?
You can express preferences, and the hospice team can note them. However, the hospice's formulary and vendor network govern what specific products are available. Clinical staff can often accommodate reasonable preferences when they don't affect clinical appropriateness or cost significantly.
What if a patient needs equipment at a different location?
If your loved one will be spending time at a different address, a family member's home, a vacation property, notify the hospice team in advance. Equipment can often be arranged at a second location, but it requires coordination and lead time.
Does hospice equipment cover a nursing home or assisted living setting?
Yes. Patients in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, or nursing home settings can elect hospice care. In these settings, the facility and the hospice coordinate equipment, the hospice provides what the facility doesn't already supply.
Who do we call if the oxygen concentrator stops working?
Call your hospice nurse or the after-hours line immediately. Do not call the oxygen vendor directly unless the hospice team instructs you to. The hospice coordinates all equipment issues through their vendor relationships.
-> Qualis helps hospice organizations deliver reliable, on-time equipment experiences for patients and families through a DME Benefits Manager platform that connects hospices to a 900+ vendor network with real-time order tracking and after-hours emergency capabilities. Contact us to learn how Qualis supports the family experience for your patients.