Woodland Hospice Care, Inc

My experience with Woodland Hospice Care, Inc. during my father’s final hours was nothing short of devastating — and not because of his passing, but because of the care (or lack thereof) we received. Per Medicare guidelines and national hospice standards, an RN is expected to visit the patient promptly upon admission, especially when care is being transitioned to the home setting and the patient is in critical condition. Woodland Hospice failed to provide any nurse within the first 24 hours of my father’s admission to hospice care at home. This isn’t a “preference” — it’s a standard of care, outlined by CMS regulations (42 CFR § 418.54 & § 418.56), and expected from any licensed hospice agency. When a clinician finally did arrive, it was not an RN but an LVN who seemed more focused on rushing to his next appointment than providing compassionate care. He spent no more than 20 minutes at my father’s bedside, inserted a catheter, and left. Within 45 minutes of his departure, my father went into septic shock and died. This was not just a medical emergency — it was a moment that should have been anticipated and handled with dignity. To make matters worse, the LVN took time during his brief visit to talk about how he used to be a doctor in Iran. While that may be part of his story, it had no place in our home while my father was declining in front of us. That kind of commentary felt not only irrelevant but deeply unprofessional in such a sensitive moment. What shocked me even further was the owner of the agency — who, rather than expressing accountability or empathy — began sharing details about her own life, including that her house had recently been broken into and she was under pressure. With all due respect, that has no place in a conversation with a grieving family who has just lost a loved one under her agency’s watch. Hospice is supposed to provide comfort, competence, and calm — not confusion, delay, and storytelling. This entire experience felt rushed, disconnected, and at times, surreal. If you are reading this because you’re trying to find a trusted hospice for your loved one: please keep looking. Your final moments with a family member deserve more than what Woodland provided us