Elara Caring
Dexter, MO · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 261637)
CMS process measure: 99.75 (state average 95.27 — above state average)
Serves: 76 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (573) 614-4000 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Elara Caring holds a 5-star family caregiver rating on CMS Care Compare, with 91% of caregivers saying they would definitely recommend it. Its composite process score of 99.75 is above the Missouri state average of 95.27.
Elara Caring serves 76 ZIP codes from its Dexter, Missouri office in Stoddard County. Families in that area can contact the hospice directly to confirm whether their specific address is included.
Yes, Elara Caring is Medicare-certified, with CCN 261637, certified since October 8, 2008. The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies that eligibility.
About this hospice
Elara Caring is a for-profit hospice based in Dexter, Missouri, serving families in Stoddard County and the surrounding region. It has been Medicare-certified since October 8, 2008, under CMS Certification Number (CCN) 261637.
According to CMS Care Compare's CAHPS Hospice Survey of family caregivers, Elara Caring holds a 5-star rating. Ninety-one percent of surveyed family caregivers said they would definitely recommend this hospice, and 90 percent gave the hospice an overall rating of 9 or 10 out of 10.
On CMS's composite process measure, which reflects how consistently a hospice delivers recommended care processes, Elara Caring scored 99.75, compared with a Missouri state average of 95.27 — placing it above the state average. CMS also reports a care index score of 9 and notes that 54.6% of patients received visits from staff in the last days of life, per the published data.
Elara Caring's service area, as reflected in CMS data, spans 76 ZIP codes from its Dexter office.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible beneficiaries; no separate cost figures are provided here. All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data as published; where a measure is not listed, CMS has not published it for this hospice, which often reflects small patient counts rather than a quality concern. Families are encouraged to verify current details directly on Medicare Care Compare and by contacting the hospice.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Elara Caring is Medicare-certified (CCN 261637) since October 8, 2008, and the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
What do family caregivers say about this hospice in the CMS survey?
CMS's CAHPS survey gives Elara Caring a 5-star family caregiver rating, with 91% saying they would definitely recommend it and 90% rating it 9 or 10 out of 10.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Elara Caring's composite process score is 99.75, above the Missouri state average of 95.27, and CMS lists a care index score of 9 and 54.6% of patients receiving visits in the last days of life.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
Elara Caring serves 76 ZIP codes from its office in Dexter, Missouri, in Stoddard County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 76 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
Elara Caring is a for-profit hospice; ownership type is one factor among many, and CMS quality data such as CAHPS scores can help families evaluate care regardless of ownership structure.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
Elara Caring has been Medicare-certified since October 8, 2008.
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness alongside curative treatment, while hospice care focuses on comfort rather than cure when a person is expected to have six months or less to live.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
No — hospice means shifting the focus of care to comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life rather than pursuing curative treatment for the terminal illness; patients can still receive treatment for unrelated conditions.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
The data provided does not specify care settings; please contact Elara Caring at (573) 614-4000 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The data provided does not describe the enrollment process; please contact Elara Caring at (573) 614-4000 for guidance and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about caregiver satisfaction scores, quality measures compared to state averages, service area, and staffing — for specifics beyond CMS data, contact Elara Caring at (573) 614-4000.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Elara Caring (CCN 261637) at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/261637?state=MO to see the latest published CMS data.
Data: CMS Care Compare (Jul2026 refresh). Survey results are reported by family caregivers through the official CAHPS Hospice Survey; CMS publishes them only above response-count thresholds. Always verify current details with the hospice and Medicare before arranging care.