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Few families plan for hospice until a doctor raises it. The first conversation often comes during a hospital stay or after hard news. Knowing the basics ahead of time helps. Palo Alto residents have several good options within a short drive, including large health systems and long-standing community nonprofits. Most care happens at home.
This page is general information, not medical advice. It explains the difference between palliative care and hospice, how Medicare and other insurance pay, which providers serve Palo Alto and what to ask before choosing. Every provider named here was confirmed on its own website in late 2026. They are listed by type, not ranked. In a medical emergency, call 911. A patient already enrolled in hospice should call the hospice's 24-hour line first.
Palliative care and hospice are not the same
People often use the words interchangeably, but they mean different things.
| Palliative care | Hospice | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Anyone with a serious illness, at any stage | People expected to live about six months or less |
| Other treatment | Continues alongside chemotherapy, surgery or other treatment | Focus shifts to comfort instead of a cure |
| Where | Clinics, hospitals and sometimes at home | Mostly at home or a care facility; sometimes an inpatient unit |
| How it is paid | Like other specialist visits, under your health plan | Medicare Part A hospice benefit, Medi-Cal or private plans |
Stanford Health Care describes palliative care as improving quality of life "through the management of symptoms, pain and stress brought on by a serious illness." Patients can start it early, even right after a diagnosis. They keep their regular doctors.
How hospice is paid for
For most older residents, the Medicare hospice benefit pays. Under Part A, a patient qualifies when a hospice doctor and the patient's own doctor certify a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. The patient must also sign up for comfort care. Coverage typically includes:
- visits from nurses, aides, social workers and chaplains
- medicines for pain and symptom control, sometimes with a small copay
- medical equipment such as a hospital bed, wheelchair or oxygen
- short respite stays so a family caregiver can rest
- grief support for the family for about a year after a death
Medicare hospice does not pay for room and board in a care home. It does not usually cover round-the-clock private aides. People can leave hospice if they improve or change their minds. They can come back later. Medi-Cal and most private plans offer similar benefits. Check your plan's network before choosing a provider. Our health insurance guide covers Medi-Cal and Covered California.
Palliative and hospice care through the big health systems
Stanford Health Care
Stanford's palliative care program lists five locations, including a clinic in Palo Alto and an inpatient team at Stanford Hospital, 300 Pasteur Drive. Its pages list help with difficult symptoms, advance care planning and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). Appointments are at 650-498-6000. Stanford notes that you may contact your doctor for a referral and that insurance authorization may be required. Patients already in Stanford Hospital can ask the care team for a palliative consult.
Sutter Health
Patients of Sutter's Palo Alto Medical Foundation are usually referred to Sutter Care at Home. Sutter describes it as the region's largest community-based, not-for-profit home health provider. It lists hospice, palliative care, home health, infusion therapy and grief support. Sutter says its hospice and bereavement services reach 18 Northern California counties and that it offers pediatric grief support as well.
Kaiser and the VA
Kaiser Permanente members should ask their Kaiser doctor or care team how hospice referrals work under their plan. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can ask their VA team about hospice and palliative care, either through the VA or through a community hospice the VA pays for.
Community nonprofit hospices
Mission Hospice
Mission Hospice was founded by local residents in 1979 and serves the Peninsula and South Bay. It is an independent nonprofit within By the Bay Health. It lists home hospice, palliative care, transitions support and grief counseling. It says community donations help it care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. The main number is (650) 554-1000.
Mission Hospice also runs Mission House, a small inpatient hospice in San Mateo County. It has six private rooms, each with a private bathroom and an outside entrance, plus gardens and common areas. It provides 24-hour hospice care for patients whose pain or other symptoms need more intensive management. It also offers respite stays so caregivers can rest. Family and friends are welcome.
Pathways Home Health and Hospice
Pathways runs its South Bay hospice office at 585 North Mary Avenue in Sunnyvale, phone 888-755-7855. It lists hospice, home health, grief support, volunteer programs and services for veterans. Its site says it is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care and lists CommonSpirit Health at Home in its health care network. It says after-hours nurses are available on nights and weekends.
Choosing a hospice
You may choose any Medicare-certified hospice that serves your address and accepts your insurance, even if a hospital suggests a particular one. Medicare's Care Compare tool shows survey results and quality measures for each hospice. Questions to ask when you call:
- Do you serve my address in Palo Alto? Can you start care this week?
- How fast does a nurse arrive after a call at night or on a weekend?
- How often will a nurse, aide and social worker visit?
- Do you offer inpatient or respite care? Where?
- Which medicines and equipment are covered? What costs might we pay?
- What grief support do you offer family members? For how long?
- Do you have staff or volunteers who speak our language?
Advance care planning
The easiest time to talk about wishes is before a crisis. Two documents matter most in California.
- Advance health care directive. Names someone to make medical decisions if you cannot and records your wishes. Any adult can complete one. Keep copies with your doctor and family.
- POLST. A doctor's order, signed by you and your clinician, that tells emergency crews and hospitals what treatment you want. It is meant for people with a serious illness or frailty. Stanford's palliative pages include POLST resources.
California also has an End of Life Option Act, which allows some terminally ill adults to request medication to end their lives under strict conditions. Hospices and health systems set their own policies on participating. Many post them online. Ask the provider directly if this matters to you.
Support for family caregivers
Hospice teams train family members in day-to-day care, but much of the work still falls on spouses and adult children. Local help includes Avenidas social workers and the services on our resources for older adults page. For paid help at home, see our guide to home care services. Families caring for someone with dementia will find support groups on our memory care page. Grief support continues after a death: Mission Hospice lists a weekly drop-in group and online groups. Our guide to cemeteries and funeral homes covers the practical steps after a death. Hospice volunteering is another way people give back; see volunteering with seniors.
Good to know
- Palliative care can start at diagnosis. Hospice is for the last months of life.
- Medicare Part A covers hospice for eligible patients, mostly at home.
- Stanford palliative care appointments: 650-498-6000.
- Mission Hospice: (650) 554-1000. Pathways: 888-755-7855.
- This page is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?
Palliative care treats pain, symptoms and stress at any stage of a serious illness and can continue alongside treatment aimed at a cure. Hospice is a form of palliative care for people expected to live about six months or less who choose to focus on comfort rather than curative treatment. Both include support for the family.
Does Medicare pay for hospice?
Yes. Medicare Part A covers hospice when a hospice doctor and your regular doctor certify a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. You must also choose comfort care. Coverage includes nursing, medicines for symptom control, equipment and grief support for the family. Most care happens at home.
Who provides hospice near Palo Alto?
Options include Sutter Care at Home, the nonprofit Mission Hospice and Pathways Home Health and Hospice in Sunnyvale. Kaiser members and veterans should ask their own care teams. Families can choose any hospice that serves their address and takes their insurance.
Is there an inpatient hospice house near Palo Alto?
Mission Hospice runs Mission House in San Mateo County, with six private rooms for patients who need round-the-clock hospice care for difficult symptoms. Each room has a private bathroom and an outside entrance. The hospice team decides with the family and doctor whether a stay there fits.
Does Stanford have palliative care?
Yes. Stanford Health Care runs palliative care clinics, including one in Palo Alto. It also has a palliative care team at Stanford Hospital. Its pages list help with hard-to-manage symptoms, advance care planning and POLST forms. Appointments are at 650-498-6000. A doctor's referral may be needed.