Care management and home care company CareFor has diversified its services by adding hospice care to its offerings.
Branded as CareFor Hospice, the program offers comprehensive symptom management, emotional support, caregiver education and 24/7 on-call clinical coverage. Establishment of the hospice will allow CareFor to maintain its longitudinal relationships with patients through the end of life and ensure continuity of care, according to Chief Operating Officer Meg Lawhon.
“We had built relationships with these people for sometimes 10 years. Then, at a very vulnerable part of their life, you’re turning them over to a whole new team of people,” Lawhon told Home Health Care News’ sister publication, Hospice News. “We’ve really formed those relationships and understood people and what they wanted. So, for us, the continuity of care, being able to stay with CareFor, and making sure that their wishes really are carried out until the true end, was something that was really important to us.”
CareFor was founded in 2000 by Debbie Pearon, a registered nurse. The company provides care management, home care, hospice, advance care planning and other services in Austin and San Antonio, as well as surrounding communities. Its hospice business is currently serving the Austin region.
CareFor spent more than 18 months building the hospice program. During the process, they met with many longtime hospice workers and stakeholders, including physicians and other clinicians. The company sought to understand the opportunities and potential pain points that come with running a hospice, Lawhon said. One key point was learning strategies to mitigate risks like staff burnout.
The hospice provides nursing visits at least twice a week, supported by CNA visits five days a week, Lawhon said. Weekly chaplain visits are also available.
The care management company also had to acclimate to a Medicare reimbursement environment.
“The licensing and the Medicare process was slower than we anticipated,” Lawhon said. “While being in the health care space is not new for us, we have historically been completely private pay on the care management and home care side, and so being more in the government-funded side was new to us. There’s a large learning curve.”
CareFor Hospice currently has a patient census of 18, with plans to grow. The company serves hospice-eligible patients within its care management population and is working to build referral relationships to expand its reach beyond its current clientele, according to Lawhon.
“We have some sales and marketing folks, community liaisons, who are working with the communities or facilities in the area, and really growing our brand awareness that way,” Lawhon said. “They’re going out to market to doctors’ offices, oncology offices, facilities like memory care, assisted living, independent living, rehabs and hospitals.”
CareFor is grounded in the belief that clear, direct, and honest communication helps families better understand what is happening, what to expect, and how to make informed decisions. This commitment to transparency and education replaces confusion with clarity, allowing families to feel more confident and prepared at every stage.
Consistency is also central to the CareFor experience. Patients and families are supported by a dedicated team that becomes familiar with their preferences, routines, and goals. This continuity builds trust, fosters meaningful relationships, and allows care to be delivered with greater insight and intention.
“We believe end-of-life care should feel steady, informed, and fully supported,” Vergara added. “That means showing up more often, communicating more clearly, and building real relationships with the families we serve.”
CareFor Hospice is now accepting patients in the Austin area and continues to expand its reach to serve more families in need of elevated hospice care.