One of the most common misconceptions about hospice is that it is only for a person’s final days. In reality, hospice care is often most beneficial when started earlier.  Under Medicare guidelines, a patient may qualify for hospice if a physician determines that they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their […]

Making decisions about end-of-life care is never easy. Many families struggle with knowing when the time is right for hospice and may wonder if they are making the best choice for their loved one.  Although it is difficult to think about a loved one’s life coming to an end, recognizing when additional support is needed […]

On a sweltering day at the end of June, Mark Smith, Caris Representative of our Chattanooga office walked into NHC Healthcare Chattanooga, smiling and greeting each person he saw. Everyone knew him on a first name basis, and a few pulled him aside to talk about patients who needed additional support.  The Caris Healthcare relationship […]

Jennifer Hughes looks back on her childhood fondly. She grew up in Honaker, Virginia where she walked everywhere- to church, school, and even her first job. But it had not been easy. Her father died in the coal mine when she was nine years old, and her mother was diagnosed with cancer when she was […]

Our goal at Caris is to always to be able to honor our patients by respecting their dignity and last wishes.  We do this by learning and honoring the three most important things to them.  We recently had the privilege of helping a patient achieve one of her most three important things before she dies. […]