ELARA CARING
Provider Information
- Address
- 2130 W SYCAMORE, SUITE 240 A
KOKOMO, IN 46901 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- July 15, 2005
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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 May 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) | 55 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 9 |
| Volunteers | 7 |
120
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 ELARA CARING reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Provided directly by this hospice
- Type of inpatient care
- Both general inpatient care and respite care
- 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 2018.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how ELARA CARING compares to hospices nationwide.
10.6 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 31st percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
213
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 day10.6 min
Ranks better than about 31% 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 weekends8.8%
Ranks better than about 60% 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 life92.7%
Ranks better than about 44% 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 visits56.6%
Ranks better than about 44% 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 care6.7%
Ranks better than about 47% 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 months32.1%
Ranks better than about 63% 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 care8.8%
Ranks better than about 42% 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 hospice1.6%
Ranks better than about 42% 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$14,138 · 29th 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 9 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 72.3% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99.9%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.8%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.9%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life72.3%
- All care steps completed99.8%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer22%
- Dementia13%
- Heart and circulatory disease25%
- Lung and respiratory disease9%
- Stroke3%
- Other conditions30%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Hospice Care at Elara Caring
Elara Caring provides hospice services to families in Kokomo, Indiana. They operate out of their office on West Sycamore Street in Howard County. This team focuses on comfort and support for those facing a life-limiting illness. They help patients stay in their own homes whenever possible. Their goal is to manage pain and improve daily life during a very difficult time. Choosing the right support is a big step for your loved one. You want a team that listens and responds to your unique needs every single day.
About ELARA CARING
Elara Caring is a for-profit hospice provider. They have been Medicare certified since July 15, 2005. That is nearly two decades of serving the local community. Being in the system that long shows they have deep roots in the area. For-profit status means they are a private business, but they must still meet strict federal rules to keep their certification. Families should know that Medicare checks these providers often. The thing is, all certified hospices must provide the same basic care. This includes nursing, medicine, and grief support. You should always ask how their specific team handles after-hours calls. Knowing who will show up at 3:00 AM brings real peace of mind.
Quality of Care Summary
Understanding Hospice Care in KOKOMO
Hospice is not a place you go to die. It is a special type of care that comes to you. In Kokomo, providers like Elara Caring help people live as well as they can for as long as they can. The focus shifts from curing a disease to treating the person. You get a team of nurses, social workers, and volunteers who visit you at home. They help with pain, but they also help with the emotional weight of a terminal diagnosis. Many people wait too long to call. They often say they wish they had reached out sooner. Hospice is meant for the final months, not just the final days. Using these services early can change the entire journey for your family.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Talking to a hospice team can feel scary. But you are the boss here. You have every right to ask tough questions. Start by asking how many nurses they have on call at night. You should also ask how they handle pain medicine changes on the weekend. Another good question is how they support the family after a loss. Do they offer counseling? How often will a volunteer visit to give the primary caregiver a break? You need to know if their style matches your family values. Trust your gut feeling when you talk to them. If they seem rushed or cold on the phone, keep looking. You need a partner who treats you like family.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your loved one has a lifetime of wisdom and memories. Capture their voice and their history now to create a lasting treasure for your children and grandchildren.
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Helpful Guides for Families
Starting the End-of-Life Conversation: A Family Guide
Starting the end-of-life conversation is hard. Our guide provides scripts, expert tips, and Medicare insights to help you navigate this talk with confidence.
Understanding Hospice Levels of Care: A Family Guide
Navigating end-of-life care is hard. Our guide to understanding hospice levels of care helps you make informed choices for your loved one with confidence.
Hospice at Home vs. Inpatient: Choosing the Right Care
Deciding between hospice at home and inpatient hospice? Discover the pros and cons of each care setting to help you make the right choice for your loved one.
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.