Q: Are all Hospice programs the same?
A: While all Medicare certified hospices must offer the same core services: physician, nursing, social work, hospice aides, spiritual support and volunteer services, the way they provide them and how often they provide them vary dramatically. Hospice of Laurens County has outstanding differences as demonstrated by a strong and vibrant patient volunteer program that offers services in all corners of our county with local individuals. Our chaplains are available to provide any degree of support the family requests. Our Bereavement Program is a full service program allowing our support staff to cater to individual levels of needs. The bereavement program is available to anyone in need of support during the grieving process, not just Hospice of Laurens County patients/families.

In addition, Hospice of Laurens County has several exclusive services to better serve our local community:
  • Transitions Program - for those who do not meet eligibility for the regular hospice program, but need some support.
  • Watchman Program - volunteers who below to local churches who "watch out" for church members who qualify for Hospice services to assist in timely referrals for potential hospice patients and families
  • Jaime's Tree House - a children's bereavement camp to assist local children in the expression of their grief, whether the loss is from a hospice family experience or have suffered a significant loss outside of the hospice organization.

Q: What is the cost of Hospice?
A: Hospice care is usually paid from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance reimbursement. As a not-for-profit organization Hospice of Laurens County, accepts all patients, regardless of their ability to pay for services. Funding for patients without Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance coverage comes from United Way allocations, individual and organizational donations, fundraising and the Hospice of Laurens County Thrift Store.

Q: Who is eligible for Hospice services?
A: Hospice is available for any individual that has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and is no longer seeking curative treatment. This can include cancer as well as a non-cancer diagnosis. The top 5 non-cancer diagnosis are: end-stage heart disease, dementia, failure to thrive, lung disease, and end-stage kidney disease.

Q: How do I sign up or help a loved one sign up?
A: A physician, family member, friend, professional, or the patient can make a referral to Hospice. Under Medicare criteria, a person seeking admission to hospice services must be diagnosed by a physician as terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. The patient signs a statement electing hospice care and indicating that he or she understands treatment will be palliative (comfort), not curative. Should a patient improve under hospice care or decide to no longer receive our services, the patient can withdraw from hospice at anytime. Ask for the hospice of your choice, it is your right to choose who cares for you and your loved one.

About Us
P.O. Box 178
1304 Springdale Drive
Clinton, SC 29325
Phone (864) 833-6287
Toll Free (800) 465-4454
  Fax (864) 833-0556


P.O. Box 178
1304 Springdale Drive
Clinton, SC 29325
Phone (864) 833-6287
Toll Free (800) 465-4454
  Fax (864) 833-0556

In 1967, Dr. Cicely Saunders opened the first Hospice in South London, focusing for the first time on the unique clinical problems of patients at the end of life. The first U.S. Hospice was opened in 1974 in Connecticut. Since then over 3600 hospice programs have opened in the United States.

Hospice of Laurens County was the first hospice to open in Laurens County and has continued to serve our community. In May of 2008, Hospice of Laurens County celebrated their 21st year of serving Laurens County. Hospice of Laurens County was established in May 1987 by a group of volunteers who identified a need for Hospice in this community. Hospice of Laurens County has since served over 1600 patients and their families.

Hospice offers palliative (comfort) care rather than curative treatment. Hospice focuses on the quality of life and death is viewed as a natural process; we do not hasten nor postpone this natural course. Hospice of Laurens County takes a team approach. This team includes physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides, volunteers, and chaplains. On call nursing is available to provide care and support on a 24 hour a day, seven day a week basis. Hospice of Laurens County has an average response to your call in less than 5 minutes.

Hospice of Laurens County provides medication needed for pain and symptom management related to the terminal illness, as well as supplies and medical equipment such as hospital beds and oxygen when needed for comfort care. We consider the family of a hospice patient to be a “unit of care”. Support for the caregiver is provided throughout the process and bereavement services are provided for at least 13 months after the death of a patient.

In October 2007, Hospice of Laurens County broke ground on a Hospice House. The first of it's kind for Laurens County. The project is scheduled to be complete by the Fall of 2008 and to be open by the Spring of 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions