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