The first week after a loved one starts hospice care is disorienting, even when the decision itself feels right. New people are coming into the home, new equipment is showing up, and everyone in the family is adjusting to a different rhythm all at once. Knowing roughly what to expect, day by day, doesn’t make the week easier emotionally, but it does make it less confusing logistically.

This checklist walks through a typical first week. Every family’s pace looks a little different depending on the patient’s needs, so treat the day ranges below as a general guide, not a fixed schedule.

Day 1: Admission and the First Visit

Hospice care with Aspen Grove typically begins within 24 to 48 hours of a physician’s referral, and sometimes the same day for more urgent situations. On day one, expect:

• A hospice nurse or intake coordinator will meet with the patient and family to review medical history and current symptoms.
• A conversation about goals of care: what comfort looks like for this specific patient and what the family wants from the time ahead.
• Paperwork, including consent forms and the plan of care, was reviewed and signed.
• A primary point of contact is assigned, along with the 24/7 phone number to call with any question, day or night.

Our Starting Hospice Care page walks through this admission process in more depth if you’re still in the early stages of considering hospice.

Days 1 to 2: Equipment and Medications Arrive

Once the plan of care is in place, the practical setup usually happens fast. This often includes a hospital bed or pressure-relieving mattress if needed, oxygen equipment for patients with breathing difficulty, wound care supplies, and comfort medications delivered directly to the home. Our durable medical equipment team typically coordinates same-day delivery when equipment is urgently needed.

If a family member is unfamiliar with any of the new equipment, this is the right time to ask questions. A nurse can walk through how everything works before leaving at the first visit, rather than leaving a family to figure it out alone.

Days 2 to 3: Meeting the Rest of the Care Team

Hospice care is built around a team, not a single provider, and most of that team introduces themselves within the first few days. You can expect visits or calls from a registered nurse for clinical needs, a certified nursing assistant for help with bathing, dressing, and daily comfort, a social worker to talk through practical and emotional concerns, and a chaplain if spiritual support is wanted, for any faith background or none at all.

Not every family wants every visit right away, and that’s fine to say. The care team can adjust the pace based on what actually feels helpful this week versus what can wait.

Days 3 to 5: Settling Into a Rhythm

By the middle of the week, most families have a general visit schedule in place, based on the level of care that fits the patient’s needs. Aspen Grove’s four levels of hospice care range from routine home visits to around-the-clock support during a symptom crisis, and the level can shift as needs change; it isn’t locked in from day one.

This is also a good stretch to think about home safety, especially if mobility has become an issue. Fall Prevention and Home Safety for Hospice Patients covers practical adjustments, like clearing walkways and securing rugs, that make a real difference during this early setup period.

Days 5 to 7: Emotional Adjustment and Asking Questions

By the end of the first week, the logistics tend to settle, but the emotional weight often catches up. It’s common for family members to feel relief, guilt, exhaustion, or grief, sometimes within the same afternoon. None of that is a sign that anything is going wrong.

This is a good time to ask your social worker or chaplain about ongoing emotional support resources, including how bereavement care works for family members, even though that support extends well beyond this first week.

Learn more: Supporting the Heart: Emotional Care for Patients and Families 

What to Expect Going Forward

After the first week, most families settle into a routine that feels more predictable, with regular visits, a clear point of contact, and a plan of care that gets adjusted as the patient’s condition changes. Reaching out isn’t limited to a scheduled visit. If something feels off, whether that’s a new symptom, a question about medication, or just needing to talk something through, the care team is available 24/7, not only during business hours.

Common Questions About the First Week

• What if we need help before our first scheduled visit? Call your hospice team directly. Support is available 24/7, and urgent needs don’t have to wait for the next scheduled appointment.
• Will the same nurse and aide visit every time? In most cases, yes, a consistent care team is assigned so the patient and family don’t have to re-explain their situation to someone new each visit.
• What if the level of care needs to change during the first week? That’s normal and expected. Your care team reassesses regularly and can move a patient to a higher level of support, like continuous care, if symptoms become harder to manage at home.
• Will we be billed for the first week’s equipment and visits? Hospice care, medications related to the terminal diagnosis, and equipment are generally covered under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance, so families typically don’t receive separate bills for these services.

We’re Here for Every Day of the First Week, and Beyond

The first week in hospice can feel like a lot to absorb at once, and you don’t have to sort through it without support. Contact Aspen Grove Hospice or call (720) 999-9854 if you have questions about what to expect, whether you’re just starting this week or already in the middle of it.