Worcester Senior AdvisorAscend Hospice is a Medicare-certified hospice based at 352 Belmont Street in Worcester, MA 01604. It has been certified since 2005. It cares for about 172 patients on an average day, making it one of the larger hospices in the area. It scores 10 out of 10 on Medicare's Hospice Care Index; the Massachusetts average is 9.2. Family caregivers rate it 3 out of 5 stars. The index flags 4 areas where it is worse than the Massachusetts average, starting with patients discharged alive after 180 days or more.
What is Ascend Hospice's Medicare record?
| Hospice | Ascend Hospice |
|---|---|
| Address | 352 Belmont Street, Worcester, MA 01604 |
| Phone | (508) 229-8390 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 221566 |
| Ownership | For-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 11/18/2005 |
How does Ascend Hospice score on Medicare's Hospice Care Index?
Ascend Hospice scores 10 out of 10 on the Hospice Care Index, which counts how many of ten visit, discharge and staffing indicators a hospice meets. Against the Massachusetts average it is better on 0 of the indicators below and worse on 4.
| Indicator | Ascend Hospice | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days (lower is better) | 55.1% | 52.9% | 52.4% | About the same |
| Patients discharged alive within 7 days (lower is better) | 11.4% | 9.4% | 7.3% | About the same |
| Patients discharged alive after 180 days or more (lower is better) | 40.4% | 36.4% | 37.4% | Worse |
| Live discharge followed by a hospital stay and readmission to hospice (lower is better) | 11.4% | 8.3% | 8.5% | Worse |
| Live discharge followed by death in hospital (lower is better) | 2.6% | 2.7% | 2.1% | About the same |
| Nurse minutes per routine home care day | 14.3 min | 14 min | 19.9 min | About the same |
| Share of skilled nursing minutes given on weekends | 5.3% | 8.6% | 9.6% | Worse |
| Patients visited by a nurse in the last 3 days of life | 89.3% | 93.3% | 89.3% | Worse |
Separately, 98.4% of its patients received all seven recommended care steps at admission (Massachusetts average 95.5%) and 71.9% were visited by a nurse or social worker on at least two of their last three days (Massachusetts average 67.5%).
What do families say about Ascend Hospice?
86% of family caregivers said they would definitely recommend Ascend Hospice; the Massachusetts average is 85%. The survey goes to the family member who was the main caregiver, after the patient has died.
| Survey question | Ascend Hospice | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team always communicated well | 80% | 81% | 82% | About the same |
| Team always provided timely help | 75% | 77% | 78% | About the same |
| Team always treated the patient with respect | 91% | 91% | 91% | About the same |
| Right amount of emotional and spiritual support | 90% | 91% | 91% | About the same |
| Patient always got help for pain and symptoms | 79% | 76% | 76% | Better |
| Caregivers rated the hospice 9 or 10 | 78% | 82% | 83% | Worse |
| Would definitely recommend the hospice | 86% | 85% | 85% | About the same |
Where does Ascend Hospice deliver care, and to whom?
42% of ascend hospice's care is delivered in assisted living and its largest patient group by diagnosis is dementia (43%). It has provided levels of care beyond routine home visits, such as continuous care at home or inpatient stays, in the last three years.
| Where care is delivered | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| In assisted living | 42% |
| In a nursing facility | 34% |
| At home | 13% |
| In a skilled nursing facility | 11% |
| Primary diagnosis | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| Dementia | 43% |
| Stroke | 26% |
| Cancer | 14% |
| Other conditions | 9% |
| Heart and circulatory disease | 6% |
| Respiratory disease | 6% |
Which Worcester-area ZIP codes does Ascend Hospice serve?
Ascend Hospice tells Medicare it serves 32 ZIP codes in Worcester and the rest of Worcester County.
- 01420
- 01451
- 01453
- 01462
- 01473
- 01501
- 01506
- 01507
- 01510
- 01515
- 01516
- 01525
- 01527
- 01536
- 01540
- 01543
- 01545
- 01550
- 01568
- 01570
- 01571
- 01588
- 01590
- 01602
- 01603
- 01604
- 01606
- 01610
- 01611
- 01612
- 01740
- 01757
What should you ask Ascend Hospice before choosing it?
Ask how eligibility is reviewed
40.4% of its live discharges came after six months or more of care (Massachusetts average 36.4%). Ask how often the doctor recertifies eligibility and what support is offered if a patient is discharged.
Ask how a crisis at home is handled
11.4% of its live discharges were followed by a hospital stay and a return to hospice (Massachusetts average 8.3%). Ask who comes to the house in a symptom crisis and how fast.
Ask about weekend coverage
5.3% of its nursing time is delivered on weekends (Massachusetts average 8.6%). Ask who is on call Saturday and Sunday and whether routine visits happen then.
Ask where inpatient care happens
When symptoms cannot be managed at home, hospice provides short inpatient stays. Ask which facility they use and how far it is from the family.
Which other hospices serve Worcester, MA?
- Jhc Hospice — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Notre Dame Hospice — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Vna Care Hospice Inc — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
All Medicare-certified hospices in Worcester and the rest of Worcester County
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
Is Ascend Hospice Medicare-certified?
Yes. Ascend Hospice is certified by Medicare under provider number 221566 and has been since 2005.
What is Ascend Hospice's Hospice Care Index score?
10 out of 10 in the current Medicare data. The Massachusetts average is 9.2.
How large is Ascend Hospice?
It cares for about 172 patients on an average day.
