Worcester Senior AdvisorThere are 15 Medicare-certified hospices based in Worcester and the rest of Worcester County. Medicare publishes a Hospice Care Index score for 13 of them and family caregiver survey stars for 10. 10 score a full 10 out of 10 on the index; the Massachusetts average is 9.2.
Which hospices in Worcester score highest with Medicare?
The table lists every hospice, highest index score first. A linked name opens the full record: each index indicator against the state and national averages, the family survey answers, where care is delivered and the ZIP codes served.
| Hospice | Hospice Care Index | Family caregiver survey | Patients per day | Certified since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vna & Hospice of Greater Milford Milford, MA 01757 · (508) 473-0862 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★★5 / 5 | 104 | 2009 |
| Jhc Hospice Worcester, MA 01609 · (508) 713-0512 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★★5 / 5 | 78 | 2006 |
| Brookhaven Hospice Marlborough, MA 01752 · (508) 820-4800 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 137 | 2008 |
| Notre Dame Hospice Worcester, MA 01605 · (508) 852-5505 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 77 | 2007 |
| Health Alliance Home Health and Hospice Leominster, MA 01453 · (978) 342-6013 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 26 | 1989 |
| Vna Care Hospice Inc Worcester, MA 01606 · (508) 756-7176 | 10 / 10 | ★★★☆☆3 / 5 | 198 | 1986 |
| Ascend Hospice Worcester, MA 01604 · (508) 229-8390 | 10 / 10 | ★★★☆☆3 / 5 | 172 | 2005 |
| Beacon Hospice, an Amedisys Company Leominster, MA 01453 · (978) 466-7890 | 10 / 10 | ★★☆☆☆2 / 5 | 60 | 2008 |
| Compassus - Greater Western Massachusetts Auburn, MA 01501 · (508) 845-2379 | 10 / 10 | No rating published | 31 | 2004 |
| Trinity Hospice, LLC Falmouth, MA 02540 · (781) 690-6113 | 10 / 10 | No rating published | 20 | 2007 |
| Care Central Vna & Hospice Gardner, MA 01440 · (978) 632-1230 | 9 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 63 | 1991 |
| Overlook Hospice Services Charlton, MA 01507 · (508) 765-1515 | 9 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 35 | 2005 |
| Serenity Hospice, LLC Southborough, MA 01772 · (508) 266-6402 | 9 / 10 | No rating published | 28 | 2009 |
| Aseracare Hospice Westborough, MA 01581 · (508) 721-1219 | Not published | No rating published | — | 2008 |
| Preferred Peaceful Transitions Home Health Care Inc Milford, MA 01757 · (506) 473-0404 | Not published | No rating published | — | 2024 |
What does the Hospice Care Index measure, and what does it not?
The Hospice Care Index is a score out of 10 that counts how many of ten Medicare claims-based indicators a hospice meets. It measures patterns of visits and discharges. It does not measure bedside manner, and it is not a patient satisfaction score.
| Hospice Care Index | Family caregiver survey | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Medicare billing claims over two years | A survey mailed to the main family caregiver after a death |
| What it shows | How often nurses visit, weekend care, visits near death, and patterns of live discharge | Communication, timely help, respect, symptom control and whether families would recommend the hospice |
| What it misses | How families felt about the care | Small hospices, which often have too few responses to report |
Does Medicare pay for hospice care in Massachusetts?
Yes. Medicare covers hospice for people a doctor certifies as terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less who choose comfort care. It covers the nurse, aide, social worker and chaplain visits, medications for the terminal illness, and equipment, with at most a small copay for prescriptions and respite stays. It does not cover room and board in assisted living or a nursing home.
Why do so many Worcester hospices have no published scores?
2 of the 15 hospices here have no index score. Medicare only publishes results once a hospice has enough claims in the two-year window, and Worcester and the rest of Worcester County has many recently certified, small hospices. A missing score tells you a hospice is new or small. It does not tell you whether it is good.
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
How many Medicare-certified hospices are in Worcester?
15 are based in Worcester and the rest of Worcester County. 13 have a published Hospice Care Index score.
What is a good Hospice Care Index score?
The index runs from 0 to 10. The Massachusetts average is 9.2, and 10 hospices in Worcester and the rest of Worcester County score a full 10.
Can a hospice patient stay in assisted living?
Yes. Hospice staff visit wherever the patient lives, including assisted living and memory care. Medicare pays for the hospice care but not for the room and board.
