14 Resources
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Find a hospice in your area. For families weighing end-of-life care, comfort care, or quality-of-life-focused treatment alongside curative care. Palliative care can start at any stage and works alongside oncology, cardiology, or other curative teams. Bereavement support is a Medicare hospice benefit for 13 months after the patient's death — most families don't realize this. Free, confidential, and available to any Iowa resident who needs the information.
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Education and resources for those facing end-of-life issues and grief. Useful when curative treatment is becoming harder than the disease — palliative care doesn't mean giving up. Medicare's hospice benefit covers nurse visits, medications, equipment, and 13 months of grief support for surviving family. Comfort care decisions are reversible — patients can leave and re-enter hospice as goals change. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NHPCO consumer site with free state-specific advance directives and end-of-life planning info. A starting point for families navigating advance directives, DNR/DNI decisions, or what comfort care actually looks like at home. Inpatient hospice facilities (some standalone, some in nursing homes) offer 24/7 care when symptoms can't be managed at home. Hospice does not shorten life on average; some studies suggest it lengthens life slightly by reducing aggressive end-of-life treatment. All services free...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Public information from CAPC — what palliative care is and how to find it. A starting point for families navigating advance directives, DNR/DNI decisions, or what comfort care actually looks like at home. Most hospice care happens at home with a visiting nurse, aide, social worker, and chaplain on a rotating schedule. Conversations about goals of care are most useful BEFORE crisis; The Conversation Project has free guides for starting them. Free, confidential, and available to any Iowa resident who...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
CAPC — provider directory and resources to advance palliative care nationwide. A starting point for families navigating advance directives, DNR/DNI decisions, or what comfort care actually looks like at home. Inpatient hospice facilities (some standalone, some in nursing homes) offer 24/7 care when symptoms can't be managed at home. Conversations about goals of care are most useful BEFORE crisis; The Conversation Project has free guides for starting them. Open at no cost to Iowa seniors and the...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Nonprofit working to improve care, expand options, and empower everyone to chart their end-of-life journey. Useful when curative treatment is becoming harder than the disease — palliative care doesn't mean giving up. Medicare's hospice benefit covers nurse visits, medications, equipment, and 13 months of grief support for surviving family. The CAPC palliative care directory lists hospital-based teams; most major medical centers now have one. Free, confidential, and available to any Iowa resident who...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Free Conversation Starter Kit to help families discuss wishes for end-of-life care. Worth contacting when a doctor expects six months or less remaining; hospice is fully Medicare-covered at this point. Hospice intake usually happens in 24-48 hours from the first call; teams visit at home and don't require a hospital stay. Bereavement support is a Medicare hospice benefit for 13 months after the patient's death — most families don't realize this. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
One of the largest hospice providers in the US, with locations across 14 states. For families weighing end-of-life care, comfort care, or quality-of-life-focused treatment alongside curative care. Medicare's hospice benefit covers nurse visits, medications, equipment, and 13 months of grief support for surviving family. Bereavement support is a Medicare hospice benefit for 13 months after the patient's death — most families don't realize this. All services free of charge to qualifying seniors and...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Hospice care provider with locations across many states. Now part of Gentiva. A starting point for families navigating advance directives, DNR/DNI decisions, or what comfort care actually looks like at home. Inpatient hospice facilities (some standalone, some in nursing homes) offer 24/7 care when symptoms can't be managed at home. Conversations about goals of care are most useful BEFORE crisis; The Conversation Project has free guides for starting them. Open at no cost to Iowa seniors and the...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Advocacy arm of NHPCO advancing hospice and palliative care policy. For families weighing end-of-life care, comfort care, or quality-of-life-focused treatment alongside curative care. Medicare's hospice benefit covers nurse visits, medications, equipment, and 13 months of grief support for surviving family. Comfort care decisions are reversible — patients can leave and re-enter hospice as goals change. Open at no cost to Iowa seniors and the families supporting them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Merged NAHC + NHPCO — leading voice for home care and hospice providers. For families weighing end-of-life care, comfort care, or quality-of-life-focused treatment alongside curative care. Medicare's hospice benefit covers nurse visits, medications, equipment, and 13 months of grief support for surviving family. Bereavement support is a Medicare hospice benefit for 13 months after the patient's death — most families don't realize this. Free of charge — no eligibility paperwork required to call or browse.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Free pop-up gatherings to talk about death — held worldwide, including in the US. Useful when curative treatment is becoming harder than the disease — palliative care doesn't mean giving up. Medicare's hospice benefit covers nurse visits, medications, equipment, and 13 months of grief support for surviving family. Hospice does not shorten life on average; some studies suggest it lengthens life slightly by reducing aggressive end-of-life treatment. Open at no cost to Iowa seniors and the families...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Find a Medicare-certified hospice in Iowa via Care Compare. Relevant for any seriously ill senior whose symptoms (pain, breathlessness, anxiety) aren't being well-managed. Most hospice care happens at home with a visiting nurse, aide, social worker, and chaplain on a rotating schedule. Hospice does not shorten life on average; some studies suggest it lengthens life slightly by reducing aggressive end-of-life treatment. Free, confidential, and available to any Iowa resident who needs the information.
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website
Free state-specific advance directive forms for Iowa via CaringInfo. Useful when curative treatment is becoming harder than the disease — palliative care doesn't mean giving up. Medicare's hospice benefit covers nurse visits, medications, equipment, and 13 months of grief support for surviving family. Hospice does not shorten life on average; some studies suggest it lengthens life slightly by reducing aggressive end-of-life treatment. Free service; donations support but never gate access.
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website