Consumer Guide: Finding and Choosing a Hospice
In Wisconsin, the state licenses and regulates certain hospice agencies (based on Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 131). There’s a directory with details about each regulated hospice in Wisconsin. View the directory in Excel or as a PDF.
Hospice directory in Excel (Excel)
What is a Hospice?
A hospice is an agency that cares for people who have a terminal illness. Those who get hospice care are often expected to live 6–12 months. Hospice care can happen at home or in another setting, such as a nursing home.
When looking for the right hospice agency, it’s important to find one that you like and trust. We have resources to help you find and choose the best option for you and your loved one.
Hospice resources
Expand the section that applies to you to view a list of resources. Select a link to learn more.
Along with the directory, these resources can help you learn more about hospice care options.
- Aging and disability resource centers (ADRCs) - Learn how ADRCs serve the public and how to contact your local ADRC. ADRCs help with issues that affect older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. Your ADRC makes it easy to learn about options near you and apply for programs and benefits. Their services are free if you live in Wisconsin.
- Provider Search - Use the Provider Search tool to find health and residential care providers in Wisconsin. You can filter results to show only certain types of facilities, such as hospice.
- Residential Care Options by County - Access details about residential care options based on where you live. Use a map or county listing to select your county and learn more.
The Division of Quality Assurance takes routine surveys of hospice agencies in Wisconsin. The goal is to make sure these agencies meet state requirements and offer quality care. These resources explain more about how hospice agencies are regulated.
- Find & Compare Nursing Homes, Hospitals & Other Providers Near You - Search for home health agencies, using the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) database. See how well the home health agency follows Medicare and Medicaid requirements. Each agency also has a quality rating and patient survey rating of one to five stars.
- Hospice - Learn more about how home health agencies are regulated in Wisconsin.
- Home Health and Hospice Licensure and Certification, P-63075 (PDF) - Learn more about the state survey process.
- Provider Search - Use the Provider Search tool to find health and residential care providers in Wisconsin. View survey results and any citations from the past three years.
These resources can help you understand laws that protect people getting hospice.
- Client Rights Office: Find out how to get advice about your rights from a team of experts. This office helps people who get services for a disability, mental health, or substance use. They’ll tell you more about your rights under the law, Wis. Stat. §§ 51.30 and 51.61, and what they mean.
- Complaints or Problems with Your Health Care - Find out how to file a complaint about your health care. Includes issues with health and residential care facilities, providers, insurance, and medical bills.
- End-of-Life Planning - Learn about how to plan for the end of life. Includes details on advance directives, do-not-resuscitate orders, privacy rights, and more.
These extra resources are for older adults or people with disabilities and caregivers.
- CaringInfo - Find guides and resources to help you plan ahead, care for a loved one, live with an illness, or grieve a loss. This resource is from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
- Quality Check - See which hospice agencies have earned accreditation or certification from The Joint Commission.