I would avoid Apreva Hospice. My experience with them was extremely disappointing and added…read moresignificant stress during an already difficult time. Rather than providing comfort and support, I found their care to be poorly coordinated, inadequately individualized, and at times clinically inappropriate.
My sister had a complex medical history that included recurrent syncopal (fainting) episodes. Unfortunately, hospice staff repeatedly interpreted these episodes as signs that she was actively dying or "transitioning" without adequately reviewing her medical history or understanding her underlying condition.
After one such episode, I received a call from a hospice representative through an out-of-state call center recommending that morphine be started immediately. There was no apparent clinical indication for morphine at that time, and the caller was unable to explain the rationale for the recommendation or answer basic questions. This was both unsettling and concerning.
On another occasion, a hospice nurse recommended oral antibiotics for a suspected aspiration-related infection. At the time, my sister was unresponsive and not eating or drinking, making oral administration impractical. Concerned about the recommendation, I had her evaluated in the Emergency Department. No infection was found, no antibiotics were indicated, and her symptoms were ultimately attributed to another syncopal episode from which she later recovered.
I was also told that all of my sister's oral medications should be discontinued, despite the fact that she was still taking medications orally and there was no clear clinical reason to stop them. This recommendation created unnecessary anxiety and confusion.
The hospice chaplain's conduct was also unprofessional. Facility staff ultimately asked him not to return after he put his feet on a table and requested flowers that were being used for a resident activity.
Several nurses at the care facility privately expressed concerns about the quality of hospice care they were observing and recommended that I consider changing hospice providers. By that point, my sister's condition had become increasingly unstable, and I felt that changing providers would only add more stress. She passed away later that week.
What was perhaps most disappointing was the lack of follow-up after her death. Her primary hospice nurse never contacted me to offer condolences, answer questions, or provide support.
As an advanced practice healthcare provider, I recognized a number of concerning issues that may not be apparent to families without medical training. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this hospice organization.
