AUTUMN HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 454 WASHINGTON STREET
NORWELL, MA 02061 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- March 12, 2020
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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) | 5 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 1 |
| Physicians | 2 |
22
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 AUTUMN 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
- 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 2020.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how AUTUMN HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
7.9 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 9th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
79
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 day7.9 min
Ranks better than about 9% 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 weekends7.8%
Ranks better than about 49% 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 life93.3%
Ranks better than about 49% 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 visits83.1%
Ranks better than about 11% 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 care8.8%
Ranks better than about 34% 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 months47.1%
Ranks better than about 23% 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 care10.3%
Ranks better than about 34% 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 hospice1.5%
Ranks better than about 44% 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$20,691 · 64th 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 65.6% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening96.1%
- Pain assessment96.8%
- Breathing difficulty screening98.9%
- Breathing difficulty treatment98.3%
- Treatment preferences discussed98.6%
- Beliefs and values discussed79.2%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids97.0%
- Visits in the last days of life65.6%
- All care steps completed73.9%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer10%
- Dementia38%
- Heart and circulatory disease11%
- Lung and respiratory disease6%
- Stroke15%
- Other conditions21%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Autumn Hospice in Norwell
Autumn Hospice serves families in Norwell, Massachusetts. They provide end of life care for those who need support at home or in other settings. The agency is Medicare certified and holds accreditation from the Joint Commission. This means they meet high standards for safety and care quality. Their team works in Plymouth County to help patients manage symptoms. They focus on comfort during a difficult time. Getting the right care matters for your loved one. This provider aims to meet those needs every single day.
About Autumn Hospice
This is a for-profit hospice agency that has been Medicare certified since early 2020. The Joint Commission accreditation is a big deal. They are an independent group that checks if a hospice follows strict rules. They look at patient safety and how the agency runs its daily tasks. This badge shows that an outside group has looked at their work. You should know that they have a small team of twenty-two employees. This includes five registered nurses and one licensed practical nurse. They also have two physicians on staff to oversee medical plans. Knowing who is on the care team helps you plan for the future. You can ask them how they coordinate visits among these staff members. It is good to understand how they handle urgent calls at night. Ask them about their response times for emergency needs.
Quality Overview
What Is Hospice Care Like in Norwell?
Hospice care in Norwell focuses on keeping patients comfortable in their own surroundings. Teams typically include nurses, doctors, and aides who visit you. They help with pain relief and emotional support for the whole family. The team at Autumn Hospice includes five registered nurses who lead the care efforts. Having a doctor on the team allows for quick changes to medicine if needed. Most families find that having a consistent nurse makes a difference. You will work with them to create a plan that fits your goals. They provide care wherever you call home. This could be a private house or an assisted living facility. The goal is to keep the patient safe and at ease. You can reach out to them directly to see how their specific team covers the local area.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
- How quickly can a nurse get to my home if an emergency happens at night?
- What specific training does your staff have for managing difficult pain symptoms?
- How do you handle communication between the hospice doctor and my primary physician?
- Can you tell me how many patients each nurse typically cares for at one time?
These questions help you see if a provider is a good fit. Take your time to get clear answers. You deserve to feel comfortable with the team you choose. Write down the answers so you can compare them later. It helps to have another family member with you during these talks. They might hear things you miss while you are busy listening.
Keep Family Stories Alive
Your loved one has a life full of memories and wisdom. We offer tools to help you record their stories so they last for many years to come.
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