Hospice and palliative care are essential services for anyone who is entering the last phase of their life. Many senior caregivers may rightly wonder which hospice and palliative care facilities, companies, and organizations are worth researching and what to consider when looking.
This article will review what makes hospice and palliative care good and list some of Hawaii’s highly-rated senior care facilities.
What To Consider When Researching Hawaii Hospice and Palliative Care Facilities
There are many things to consider when researching hospice and palliative care facilities. Thankfully, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has a hospice questionnaire people can cross-reference when considering hospice and palliative care options.
A few of the notable questions featured in the NHPCO’s questionnaire are:
- Is the facility for-profit or not-for-profit?
- How many years has it operated?
- Is both palliative and hospice care available?
- Is there an inpatient unit as well as home care?
- Is it Medicare-certified?
To develop this list, I used the above comparison points to determine if the hospice and palliative care facilities were worth considering. In addition, I only researched places that received a rating between 4-5 stars on Google and checked to see if each provider also appeared on the NHPCO’s provider list. Note that these hospice and palliative care facilities are not rated in any particular order. This list contains six providers because they were the only hospices on NCPCO’s list that received a Google rating between 4-5 stars. As always, with lists such as this, I encourage you and your loved one to do unique online research and to ask a trusted doctor, and possibly a social worker, for their thoughts on hospice and palliative care facilities in your area, too. (Another helpful decision-making tool is Medicare.gov’s provider comparison service.)
Top Hawaii Hospice And Palliative Care Facilities
1. Navian Hawaii
Navian Hawaii, a non-profit hospice founded in 1999, serves two areas in the state. It has a state license, is Medicare-certified, but does not appear to be accredited. This hospice provides care wherever a patient calls home. Patients needing inpatient care can visit Enchanted Lake to stay at Navian Hospice Hawaii Kailua Home. In addition to traditional hospice, qualifying patients can access the hospice’s Supportive Care Program (palliative care). Patients also have access to the hospice’s many complimentary services, including pet therapy and more.
2. Pohai Malama
Pohai Malama Care Center, part of Hawai’i Care Choices, is located in Hilo. This location received a 5-star rating on Google (2 reviews) and is described as a care center that features a “state-of-the-art home-like setting” that has “trained, round-the-clock professional staff.”
This hospice’s parent company, which was founded in 1983, provides multiple layers of care, including:
- Palliative care
- Hospice care (in-home and inpatient care)
- Bereavement care
Hawai’i Care Choices is Medicare-certified and is not for profit. I could not determine if this hospice has a state license or if it’s accredited.
3. North Hawaii Hospice
North Hawaii Hospice is located in Kamuela. This hospice is Medicare-certified, but I could not determine if it has a state license or is accredited. Since 1986, North Hawaii Hospice has provided care, which includes general hospice services for patients and community services, such as:
- Free educational programs
- Free bereavement counseling
- End-of-life resource library, including other bereavement resources
- Memorial ceremonies
I could not determine where this hospice provides care (in a patient’s home or at an inpatient care center). I also could not determine if it provides palliative care and if it’s for or not for profit.
4. Malama Ola
Malama Ola Health Services “is the only physician-owned and operated hospice company in Hawai’i.” It provides hospice and palliative care services. It’s accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) and is part of the We Honor Veterans program. The NHPCO, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, developed the “We Honor Veterans” program. This hospice states that its services are “covered 100 percent by Medicare as well as Hawai’i Medicaid and private insurance plans,” but it did not specifically state that it’s Medicare-certified. I also could not tell if it has a state license, if it is for or not for profit, or when it was founded. It appears that Malama Ola provides care wherever a patient calls home.
5. Hospice of Kona
Hospice of Kona, founded in 1985, serves Hawaii and is Medicare-certified. I could not determine if this hospice has a state license or if it’s accredited. Hospice of Kona serves patients wherever they live and in its hospice residential home, Nakamaru Hale. This non-profit provides hospice care and palliative care. In addition to providing standard hospice care, Hospice of Kona also provides bereavement services and operated a bereavement camp for kids called Camp Erin Hawaii.
6. Hospice Maui
Hospice Maui has served the area for 40 years. It gives care to people wherever they call home, as well as in Hospice Maui Hale, its five-bedroom facility. In addition to standard hospice care, Hospice Maui also provides:
- Supportive Care, a home-based palliative care program
- Bereavement support
- Community outreach
Hospice Maui is Medicare-certified, but I could not determine if it has a state license and is accredited. I could not determine if this hospice is for or not for profit.