Worcester Senior AdvisorNotre Dame Hospice is a Medicare-certified hospice based at 555 Plantation Street in Worcester, MA 01605. It has been certified since 2007. It cares for about 77 patients on an average day, making it a mid-sized hospice. It scores 10 out of 10 on Medicare's Hospice Care Index; the Massachusetts average is 9.2. Family caregivers rate it 4 out of 5 stars. The index flags 1 area where it is worse than the Massachusetts average, starting with nurse minutes per routine home care day.
What is Notre Dame Hospice's Medicare record?
| Hospice | Notre Dame Hospice |
|---|---|
| Address | 555 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605 |
| Phone | (508) 852-5505 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 221575 |
| Ownership | For-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 06/05/2007 |
How does Notre Dame Hospice score on Medicare's Hospice Care Index?
Notre Dame 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 3 of the indicators below and worse on 1.
| Indicator | Notre Dame Hospice | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days (lower is better) | 47.7% | 52.9% | 52.4% | Better |
| Patients discharged alive within 7 days (lower is better) | 1.9% | 9.4% | 7.3% | Better |
| Patients discharged alive after 180 days or more (lower is better) | 38.9% | 36.4% | 37.4% | About the same |
| Live discharge followed by a hospital stay and readmission to hospice (lower is better) | 3.7% | 8.3% | 8.5% | Better |
| Live discharge followed by death in hospital (lower is better) | 0% | 2.7% | 2.1% | About the same |
| Nurse minutes per routine home care day | 10.7 min | 14 min | 19.9 min | Worse |
| Share of skilled nursing minutes given on weekends | 8.9% | 8.6% | 9.6% | About the same |
| Patients visited by a nurse in the last 3 days of life | 91.7% | 93.3% | 89.3% | About the same |
Separately, 94% of its patients received all seven recommended care steps at admission (Massachusetts average 95.5%) and 68.4% 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 Notre Dame Hospice?
88% of family caregivers said they would definitely recommend Notre Dame 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 | Notre Dame Hospice | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team always communicated well | 82% | 81% | 82% | About the same |
| Team always provided timely help | 77% | 77% | 78% | About the same |
| Team always treated the patient with respect | 92% | 91% | 91% | About the same |
| Right amount of emotional and spiritual support | 89% | 91% | 91% | About the same |
| Patient always got help for pain and symptoms | 79% | 76% | 76% | Better |
| Caregivers rated the hospice 9 or 10 | 83% | 82% | 83% | About the same |
| Would definitely recommend the hospice | 88% | 85% | 85% | Better |
Where does Notre Dame Hospice deliver care, and to whom?
44% of notre dame hospice's care is delivered in a nursing facility and its largest patient group by diagnosis is dementia (30%). 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 a nursing facility | 44% |
| At home | 35% |
| Other locations | 12% |
| In assisted living | 9% |
| Primary diagnosis | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| Dementia | 30% |
| Cancer | 20% |
| Other conditions | 16% |
| Stroke | 14% |
| Heart and circulatory disease | 14% |
| Respiratory disease | 6% |
Which Worcester-area ZIP codes does Notre Dame Hospice serve?
Notre Dame Hospice tells Medicare it serves 53 ZIP codes in Worcester and the rest of Worcester County.
- 01005
- 01068
- 01083
- 01420
- 01436
- 01451
- 01452
- 01453
- 01462
- 01501
- 01505
- 01507
- 01510
- 01516
- 01519
- 01520
- 01522
- 01523
- 01524
- 01527
- 01532
- 01534
- 01536
- 01540
- 01541
- 01542
- 01543
- 01545
- 01560
- 01562
- 01564
- 01566
- 01568
- 01569
- 01570
- 01571
- 01581
- 01583
- 01585
- 01588
- 01590
- 01602
- 01603
- 01604
- 01605
- 01606
- 01607
- 01609
- 01610
- 01611
- 01612
- 01740
- 01772
What should you ask Notre Dame Hospice before choosing it?
Ask how long nursing visits last
Its nurses average 10.7 minutes per routine care day, against 14 minutes across Massachusetts. Ask how long a typical visit lasts and whether the same nurse comes each time.
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.
Ask what the family is expected to do
Hospice supports the family caregiver; it does not replace one. Ask how many aide visits a week are typical and what happens overnight.
Ask how fast they can admit
Ask how soon after the call a nurse can come out, including evenings and weekends, and how quickly medications and equipment arrive.
Which other hospices serve Worcester, MA?
- Ascend Hospice — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Jhc 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 Notre Dame Hospice Medicare-certified?
Yes. Notre Dame Hospice is certified by Medicare under provider number 221575 and has been since 2007.
What is Notre Dame Hospice's Hospice Care Index score?
10 out of 10 in the current Medicare data. The Massachusetts average is 9.2.
How large is Notre Dame Hospice?
It cares for about 77 patients on an average day.
