Hospice Tech Support
For families navigating end-of-life.
What hospice covers (Medicare)
- 100% covered for terminal illness with 6-month prognosis.
- Nurse visits, aide bathing, meds related to terminal illness.
- Hospital bed, oxygen, supplies.
- Spiritual + grief counseling.
- Bereavement support 13+ months after.
- Inpatient respite — 5 days for caregiver break.
- Choose any Medicare-certified hospice.
Family communication tools
- CaringBridge (free) — share updates so family doesn't need 20 calls.
- Lotsa Helping Hands — coordinate visitors, meals, errands.
- Group text — for closest family.
- Echo Show in patient's room — easy video calls from family.
- Hospital chaplain / hospice spiritual care — free, all faiths.
Capture stories + voice
- Voice memos — record stories while you can.
- StoryCorps — interview, archived in Library of Congress.
- Storyworth — too late if patient is non-verbal, but for early hospice can capture stories.
- Photo book — together review old photos, label, store.
- Voicemail recordings — save voicemails BEFORE phone is closed.
- Family treasures these decades later.
After death — practical tech
- Apple Legacy Contact — pre-set up for digital assets.
- Google Inactive Account Manager.
- Facebook Memorial — see /tools/memorial-facebook-guide.
- Cancel Apple subscriptions, Netflix — use account.
- Voicemail download — preserve voice.
- Photo backup — preserve all family photos before phone returned.
Grief support (free)
- Hospice bereavement program — free 13+ months after.
- GriefShare — faith-based groups.
- Compassionate Friends — for parental loss.
- WidowsHope.org — for spouses.
- Therapy — Medicare covers.
- 988 Crisis Line — 24/7 free.
Take care of yourself
Caregiving + grief is exhausting. 40% of family caregivers die before patient — from stress. Use respite. Accept help. Therapy is appropriate, not weakness. Sleep. Eat. The best gift you give your loved one is YOU staying present + healthy.