MemorialCare Hospice & Palliative Services provides services that improve quality of life for those facing death, loss and grief by promoting hope, compassion and comfort.
A department of Saddleback Medical Center, MemorialCare Hospice & Palliative Services includes an interdisciplinary team of physicians, registered nurses, social workers, spiritual care counselors, home health aides and trained volunteers. These professionals provide physical, emotional and spiritual support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each team member plays a unique role in caring for our Hospice patients.
Hospice is a home-centered philosophy that affirms life by making a person's final days meaningful. It focuses on providing palliative care to the terminally ill instead of curative measures. Hospice neither hastens nor promotes death, but eases the transition, comforting both the individual and the family.
Patients with a six-month life expectancy are admitted to the hospice program regardless of age, sex, religion or disease. Service is also available to individuals with limited resources. For a patient to receive Hospice care, the attending physician—who continues to supervise care—must order the service.
Hospice services may be discontinued if a patient’s condition improves so that their prognosis is extended beyond six months. Discontinuance of Hospice care would also be appropriate if a patient chooses to pursue curative therapy.
We accept Medicare and Medi-Cal (as payment in full); private insurance (coverage varies)/ HMOs and PPOs; and private pay. The Saddleback Memorial Foundation also provides funds for qualifying patients who meet financial criteria.
Our Hospice program has many volunteer opportunities in the Orange County area. We are always looking for volunteers that can provide companion visits, provide hair cutting services, pet therapy services, play music and more! Our volunteers build close relationships with our Hospice patients and are an integral part of the care. To be considered for a Hospice volunteer position you must meet the following criteria:
For more information about Hospice volunteer opportunities, please contact us at (949) 452-3000.
As a thank you for the care loved ones received at our hospital, families sometimes ask guests to give to Saddleback Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital, in lieu of flowers. Below is sample wording that can be used on a funeral announcement or program:
In lieu of flowers, the [NAME] family requests a gift to MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, which can be made through Saddleback Medical Center Foundation. Please designate your gift to: Area of Greatest Need or [Name of Fund].
If you can, please notify the Foundation that gifts in honor of your loved one may be arriving at (949) 452-3724 or smcf@memorialcare.org.
While memoriam gifts can be given year-round, Tree of Light tribute gifts can be made during the holiday season. Tree of Light donations directly benefit MemorialCare Hospice & Palliative Services and the names of those honored and remembered are listed in the Tree of Light Book of Remembrance displayed in the Gary and Mary Damsker Chapel through the first week of January.
Palliative Care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family. Watch advance directive videos as well.
This setting allows you to view available services and providers associated with your preferred location. You can change this setting at any time.
Cookies are required to view location specific content.
We’ve developed a new tool on our website allowing you to see content most relevant to you and your preferred location. It’s our way of making the information you need, more personalized.
You’ll find this feature labeled “Set My Location” throughout the website. Most often, you’ll see it in the top left corner of every page.
You’ll also find a feature that allows you to set your location temporarily, as seen below.