GUIDING LIGHT HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 2315 NORTH 5TH ST
ELKO, NV 89801 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- November 30, 2017
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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) | 3 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 2 |
| Physicians | 2 |
21
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 GUIDING LIGHT 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
- General inpatient care (for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed elsewhere)
- 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 2021.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how GUIDING LIGHT HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
8 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.
35
patients in care on an average day
A rough measure of size. Smaller can mean more personal. Larger can mean more resources.
Medicare reports this hospice billed for routine home care only from January 2022 through December 2024. Hospices can also provide continuous home care, inpatient care, and respite care when symptoms are harder to manage. There can be good reasons for this. Ask the provider how they handle a crisis at home.
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 day8 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 weekends19.4%
Ranks better than about 94% 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 life63.5%
Ranks better than about 5% 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 visits87.5%
Ranks better than about 7% 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 care2.9%
Ranks better than about 74% 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 months37.1%
Ranks better than about 49% 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 care25.7%
Ranks better than about 2% 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 hospice14.3%
Ranks better than about 1% 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$21,881 · 70th 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 6 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 0% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Visits in the last days of life0%
- All care steps completed87.5%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer31%
- Heart and circulatory disease26%
- Lung and respiratory disease11%
- Other conditions20%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Guiding Light Hospice in Elko
Guiding Light Hospice serves families living in Elko, Nevada, and the surrounding areas. Located at 2315 North 5th St, this provider offers end-of-life care focused on comfort and dignity. The team supports patients dealing with serious illness who want to focus on quality of life. Choosing hospice is a big decision for any family. That is why having local options like this matters so much. They work to manage pain and symptoms while providing emotional support to everyone involved. It is about making each day count. Whether you are just starting to look or need care right away, they are a resource in your community. They help navigate the physical and emotional changes that come with a terminal diagnosis. Their goal is to bring peace to the home environment during a very difficult time.
About Guiding Light Hospice
Guiding Light Hospice operates as a for-profit organization. They have been Medicare certified since November 30, 2017. This certification means they meet federal rules for patient care and safety. But what does for-profit mean for your family? It simply describes the business structure. It does not tell you everything about the care they provide. You should look at their history and how they talk to families. They have been active in the Elko area for several years. That is a decent amount of time to build a local reputation. When you meet with their team, ask about their approach to daily care. Do they have enough staff to visit your home regularly? How do they handle emergencies at night or on weekends? These are the practical details that make a difference in your daily life. Trust your gut when you speak with them.
Understanding Hospice Care in Elko
Finding the right care in a rural county like Elko can feel like a challenge. You might worry about distance or the availability of specialized staff. The good news is that hospice is designed to come to you. Most care happens right in your own home. The team travels to where the patient lives. That includes private homes, assisted living facilities, or nursing homes. And they bring the equipment and medicine with them. It is a mobile service built for convenience. The team usually includes nurses, aides, and social workers. They coordinate to make sure the patient stays comfortable. If you live in a remote part of the county, ask the provider about their coverage area. Confirm they can reach you quickly when needed. This ensures you get the support you need without any gaps in service. It makes a huge difference.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing a hospice is not something you should rush. Take a moment to write down your top concerns. Here are a few questions to guide your search:
- How fast can a nurse reach our home if there is a sudden emergency?
- What specific staff members will visit us, and how often will they come?
- How do you help family caregivers manage the stress of this process?
- Can you provide names of other families who used your services recently?
The answers to these questions will tell you a lot. Pay attention to how they treat your questions. Do they seem rushed or annoyed? Or do they listen and give clear, kind answers? A good hospice provider will welcome these questions. They know that trust is the most important part of the relationship. So take your time and choose someone who feels like a partner. You deserve to feel supported and heard during this time.
Preserve Your Family Stories
This time is hard, but it is also a chance to hold onto the memories that matter most. Start recording your family history today to keep those precious stories alive for years to come.
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