ELARA CARING
Provider Information
- Address
- 3524 W ALBERTA ROAD
EDINBURG, TX 78539 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- February 6, 2007
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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) | 4 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 2 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 3 |
9
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
- 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 2022.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how ELARA CARING compares to hospices nationwide.
12.6 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 54th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
38
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 day12.6 min
Ranks better than about 54% 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 weekends6%
Ranks better than about 26% 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 life94.9%
Ranks better than about 60% 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 visits36.3%
Ranks better than about 71% 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 care3.8%
Ranks better than about 68% 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 months54.7%
Ranks better than about 12% 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 care9.4%
Ranks better than about 39% 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 hospice0%
Ranks better than about 55% 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)74th 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$19,583 · 58th 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 73.2% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment100%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Visits in the last days of life73.2%
- All care steps completed100%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer13%
- Dementia35%
- Heart and circulatory disease22%
- Lung and respiratory disease14%
- Other conditions14%
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 serves families across Edinburg, Texas, from their office on West Alberta Road. They focus on providing comfort and support for patients during their final months of life. This team works hard to manage pain and help patients stay in their own homes whenever possible. The goal is simple: to make every day count for those facing a life-limiting illness. They provide care that honors the person and supports the whole family unit. It is a local option for those in Hidalgo County who need compassionate, end-of-life medical assistance. Choosing the right path for a loved one is hard. Having a team nearby can make a world of difference. Elara Caring has been a part of the local medical community since 2007. They bring years of experience to their work here in the Rio Grande Valley. That is a long time to serve the public.
About Elara Caring
Elara Caring is a for-profit hospice provider. They earned their Medicare certification back in February 2007. Being Medicare certified means they meet strict federal rules for safety and care. You should know that for-profit status does not change the quality of care they offer. Many high-quality providers operate this way. What matters most is how they treat your family when things get tough. They have built a track record in Edinburg over many years. When you meet with them, ask how they handle after-hours calls. You need to know that someone will answer the phone at 2:00 AM. Their long history suggests they have stable systems in place. That is comforting when you are dealing with a health crisis. They are there to walk beside you. You do not have to carry this burden all on your own.
Top Tier Quality Care
Understanding Hospice Care in Edinburg
Hospice is about living life as fully as possible. It is not about giving up hope. Instead, it shifts the focus from curing a disease to managing symptoms like pain or anxiety. In Hidalgo County, many families choose hospice to keep their loved ones surrounded by familiar photos and memories. You can get care in your own home, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. The team includes nurses, doctors, social workers, and chaplains. They all work together to build a plan that fits your specific needs. The thing is, many people wait too long to call for help. They think hospice is only for the very last few days. But the truth is, you can get support for six months or more. Getting help sooner allows the staff to build a real bond with your family. That connection creates true peace of mind.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Picking a provider is a big decision. You want someone you can trust with your heart. Start by asking these questions to see if they are a good fit for your family:
- How quickly can a nurse get to my home in an emergency?
- What specific training does your team have for managing difficult pain?
- How do you support family caregivers who are feeling burned out?
- Can you tell me about the volunteers you have available to help with daily tasks?
Ask these questions to get a feel for how they operate. Pay attention to how they answer. Do they seem rushed? Or do they take the time to listen to your worries? You deserve clear answers. You deserve to feel heard. If something does not feel right, it is okay to keep looking. Trust your gut feeling on this one.
Preserve Your Family's History
Your loved one has a lifetime of stories that deserve to be remembered. We can help you capture those precious memories to share with future generations.
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