If you just said yes to hospice in Austin and across Travis County, you may feel relief and worry at the same time. The first 72 hours in hospice care are about safety, comfort, and clear communication. You can expect a nurse to complete an initial assessment within 48 hours of electing hospice, a care plan to be set within five days, and round-the-clock access for questions or urgent needs. 

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Call us anytime at (737) 240-3003. We serve Austin, Bastrop County, Caldwell County, Harris County, Hays County, Travis County, and Williamson County.

What Hospice Looks Like In The First 72 Hours

The details below reflect how hospice generally unfolds in Austin and nearby communities, aligned with Medicare rules and local best practices.

Hours 0–4: Confirmation and First Check-ins

Once you choose hospice, your care starts with a quick confirmation of your goals, preferred location of care, and key safety needs. A team member reviews current medications, equipment needs, and who to call for after-hours concerns. If symptoms are hard right now, we prioritize an urgent nurse visit.

• Your initial nurse assessment must be completed within 48 hours of electing hospice. This is a bedside assessment focused on safety, comfort, and immediate needs.
  
• If you need help sooner, you can request the assessment earlier.
  

Hours 4-24: First Nurse Visit And Comfort Plan

During the first nurse visit, we listen to what matters most to you. We check pain, breathing, skin, mobility, appetite, and sleep. We also confirm preferred routines, spiritual and cultural practices, and who is on your support team.

What typically happens:

• Symptom relief plan starts right away. Medications are reviewed and adjusted to meet comfort goals.
  
• Equipment is ordered as needed. Common items include a hospital bed, walker, bedside commode, oxygen, or wound care supplies.
  
• Caregiver teaching begins. We show you how to give medications, position for comfort, and reduce fall risks.
  
• 24/7 phone support is explained so you know how to reach us overnight or on weekends. Medicare requires hospices to be available day and night.
  

Hours 24-48: Building Your Interdisciplinary Care Plan

Hospice is a team approach. After the first visit, the nurse confers with the hospice physician, social worker, chaplain, and other team members to shape a plan that fits your goals.

Expect:

• Review by the hospice physician to confirm the medical plan.
  
• Social worker contact to talk through practical needs, caregiver support, advance directives, and resources in Austin and Travis County.
  
• Chaplain outreach if you want spiritual support in your own tradition or community.
  
• Volunteer services may be discussed for companionship or respite. These are optional and based on your preferences.
  

Behind the scenes, your comprehensive assessment is being compiled. Regulations require that this full assessment be completed within five calendar days of electing hospice, which is why you will see several visits and calls in the first few days. 

Hours 48-72: Deliveries, Routines, And Settling In

By this point, the pace starts to feel more familiar.

• Equipment and supplies arrive if they have not already. Delivery timelines vary, but essential items are prioritized.
  
• The medication comfort kit is reviewed so you are ready if symptoms change at night.
  
• Visit rhythm is set. You will know which team members are coming next and how often. Some families need more visits at first. Others prefer teaching and check-ins with quick access by phone.
  
• Care plan is confirmed with you and your caregivers, including how to reach us for new or worsening symptoms.
  

Who Comes When: Your Hospice Team In Austin

Nurse (RN): Leads symptom management, educates caregivers, and coordinates with the hospice physician. The first assessment must occur within 48 hours of electing hospice, and the full assessment must be complete within five days. 

Hospice physician or nurse practitioner: Reviews and authorizes the plan of care, including medications, durable medical equipment, and needed labs or treatments for comfort.

Certified nursing assistant (CNA): Provides help with personal care such as bathing, grooming, and skin care.

Social worker: Guides practical planning, caregiver support, advance care planning, and connects you with resources.

Chaplain: Provides spiritual and emotional care according to your beliefs.

Volunteer coordinator: Offers optional companionship and caregiver breaks, when available. 

What Families In Travis County Often Ask In The First 3 Days

• How fast can admissions happen?
  • Many hospices aim to complete referral and admission within 24-48 hours, often sooner for urgent needs. Timing depends on safety, symptom severity, and location.
• What about after-hours changes?
  • You can call anytime, and a nurse will triage symptoms, guide you, and come if needed. Medicare materials emphasize that a hospice nurse and doctor are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
• When is the full care plan finished?
  • The comprehensive assessment and plan must be completed within five calendar days of electing hospice. This is why you see a focused flurry of activity in the first week. 
• Are there specific rights or lists I should receive?
  • Yes. You may request a list of items, services, and drugs the hospice determines are not related to the terminal illness, including reasons. The hospice must provide this list within 3-5 days of your request.
    

Starting Hospice in Austin and Surrounding Counties

Starting hospice care begins with a simple phone call often to your doctor or directly to a hospice provider. Generations Health Care serves patients at home, in senior living communities, and in skilled nursing facilities throughout Austin and Travis County, as well as Bastrop, Caldwell, Harris, Hays, and Williamson counties. If hospitalization becomes part of the plan, we coordinate closely with your chosen facility and continue focusing on comfort and goals of care. 

Start Hospice Care in Austin Today

If you are ready to begin hospice in Austin or Travis County, or you have questions about what happens in the first 72 hours, reach our hospice team now at (737) 240-3003 and visit our contact page today.