HELPING HANDS HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 1350 AUGUSTA WEST PARKWAY
AUGUSTA, GA 30909 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- October 9, 2014
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CMS Quality Ratings
Composite score combining quality measures and patient survey results.
Based on the CMS Hospice Care Index — 10 operational quality indicators including visits near death, nursing minutes, and care transitions.
CAHPS Hospice Survey — family caregivers rate communication, symptom management, respect, and overall experience.
CMS scores as of August 2026. Quality of Care derived from CMS Hospice Care Index. Patient Satisfaction from the CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey. Overall is the equally-weighted average of both. All source data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Staffing & Capacity
| Role | Staff Count |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (RN) | 4 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 2 |
| Physicians | 2 |
| Volunteers | 3 |
28
Total Employees
Staffing data as reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Inpatient Care and Medical Equipment
Hospices report these services to Medicare when they are certified. This is what HELPING HANDS HOSPICE reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Arranged through another hospital or nursing home
- Type of inpatient care
- Respite care (up to five days at a time, to give family caregivers a break)
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Brought in through an outside supplier
Short stays in a hospice inpatient unit, hospital, or nursing home for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed where the patient lives, or to give family caregivers a break.
Equipment and supplies tied to the terminal illness and the plan of care, such as a hospital bed, oxygen, wound supplies, or a wheelchair.
Medicare lets hospices provide these services through arrangements with other organizations. Either way, the hospice stays responsible for the covered care in the patient’s plan of care.
Reported by this hospice to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services when it was certified in 2019.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how HELPING HANDS HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
7.7 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 8th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
30
patients in care on an average day
A rough measure of size. Smaller can mean more personal. Larger can mean more resources.
How this hospice compares nationally
Bars show national standing on measures from the CMS Hospice Care Index. A fuller bar means this hospice does better than more of the hospices CMS tracks.
- Nurse care minutes per home care day7.7 min
Ranks better than about 8% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The average minutes of nursing care per day for patients getting routine care at home, based on Medicare claims. More nurse time usually means more hands-on support.
- Skilled nursing on weekends12%
Ranks better than about 80% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of skilled nursing time delivered on Saturdays and Sundays. Symptoms do not wait for weekdays, so weekend coverage matters.
- Nurse visits in the last days of life88.5%
Ranks better than about 27% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who got nurse visits in their final days of life. This is when families tend to need the most support.
- Gaps in nursing visits65.3%
Ranks better than about 32% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
How often patients went more than a week without a nursing visit. Fewer gaps mean steadier attention.
- Patients discharged alive early in care7.3%
Ranks better than about 44% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice alive within the first week of care. A rate of 0% means it did not happen to any of their patients.
- Patients discharged alive after 6 months41.5%
Ranks better than about 36% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients discharged alive after six months or more in hospice care.
- Hospital transfers near the end of care11%
Ranks better than about 31% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, spent time in the hospital, then came back to hospice.
- Hospital stays that interrupt hospice7.3%
Ranks better than about 4% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, went to the hospital, and died there soon after.
- Days at higher levels of care (CHC or GIP)52nd percentile
What this measures
The share of care days delivered at higher levels, such as continuous home care or inpatient care. Shown only as a national rank because small percentages round to zero.
- Medicare spending per patient$15,369 · 36th percentile
What this measures
What Medicare paid per patient for this hospice's care. Higher or lower spending is not a quality judgment by itself.
Care steps completed at admissionShow detailsMedicare tracked 8 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 14.3% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening78.6%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment96.5%
- Treatment preferences discussed98.0%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.0%
- Visits in the last days of life14.3%
- All care steps completed75.5%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer29%
- Dementia34%
- Heart and circulatory disease11%
- Lung and respiratory disease8%
- Other conditions14%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Helping Hands Hospice in Augusta
Helping Hands Hospice serves families across the Augusta area from their office on Augusta West Parkway. They offer specialized end of life care for patients in Richmond County and surrounding neighborhoods. This provider holds Medicare certification that began in the fall of 2014. They operate as a freestanding hospice agency. Families choose this provider to manage symptoms and support comfort during a serious illness. Their team works to meet medical and emotional needs at home. Because they are a for profit agency, they focus on specific service models to reach their goals. Medicare monitors these providers to ensure they meet federal safety standards. This helps you know they follow strict rules for patient care. Choosing a local provider means the care team is nearby when you need them most. Augusta families have access to their services throughout the week.
About Helping Hands Hospice
Helping Hands Hospice is a for profit organization that has been active in the Medicare system for about a decade. They keep a dedicated staff of 28 people to handle daily operations. This group includes four registered nurses and two licensed practical nurses. They also employ two physicians and three volunteers. That is a small team compared to some larger hospital systems. But these staff members focus on the specific needs of hospice patients. Why does certification matter? It means the government checks them for quality. You want to see that a provider follows these national standards. Being a freestanding hospice allows them to focus only on this type of care. They do not manage other hospital departments. This specialization can lead to more consistent attention for your loved one. Ask them how they coordinate care with your primary doctor. Good communication is a sign of a strong hospice program.
Quality of Care
What Is Hospice Care Like in Augusta?
Hospice care in Augusta focuses on keeping patients comfortable in their own homes. Most providers in Richmond County offer a team approach to manage pain and stress. You get a nurse to check in regularly and a doctor to guide the plan. Some agencies also provide social workers to help with family transitions. Helping Hands Hospice employs a mix of nurses and physicians to lead this care. Volunteers are also part of their team to provide extra companionship. This setup helps patients stay in familiar surroundings instead of a hospital room. The goal is to improve the quality of each day. You should expect the team to explain every step of the care plan clearly. They must answer your questions about medication and daily routines. Good hospice care brings peace of mind to the entire family during a difficult period of life.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You have several choices for hospice care in Georgia. It helps to ask direct questions before you make a final decision. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can arrive if a problem happens at night. You also need to know if they have staff on call during the weekend. Ask them how they handle pain management and what doctors they work with. It is also good to ask about their experience with your specific health condition. Another question is how they support family members with grief. Do they offer regular visits from a chaplain or a counselor? You should feel comfortable with the answers they provide. Take your time to speak with the agency manager if you have doubts. Your goal is to find a team that listens to your concerns. A good hospice partner will be open and honest about their services and their limits.
Keep Family Stories Alive
Recording your family history is a meaningful way to honor your loved ones during this time.
Preserve MemoriesOther Hospice Providers Nearby
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GEORGIA HOSPICE CARE
REGENCY SOUTHERNCARE
TRADITIONS HEALTH
PRUITTHEALTH HOSPICE-AUGUSTA
EMPYREAN HOSPICE OF GEORGIA, LLC-(AUGUSTA)
Helpful Guides for Families
How to Start Hospice Conversations: A Practical Guide
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Starting Difficult Conversations: A Guide for Families
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What CMS Star Ratings Actually Mean for Your Family
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Some stories are worth writing down
Between the calls and the paperwork, many families wish they had asked more about the person at the center of it all. A recorded conversation, a favorite recipe, the story behind an old photo. Small things now can mean a great deal later. Our legacy guides show simple ways to start.