Elara Caring is a Medicare-certified hospice based at 7550 IH-10 West Ste 710 in San Antonio, TX 78229. It has been certified since 2004. It cares for about 39 patients on an average day, making it a small hospice. It scores 10 out of 10 on Medicare's Hospice Care Index; the Texas average is 8.4. The index flags 2 areas where it is worse than the Texas average, starting with gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days.
What is Elara Caring's Medicare record?
| Hospice | Elara Caring |
|---|---|
| Address | 7550 IH-10 West Ste 710, San Antonio, TX 78229 |
| Phone | (210) 561-5522 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 451765 |
| Ownership | For-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 08/16/2004 |
How does Elara Caring score on Medicare's Hospice Care Index?
Elara Caring scores 10 out of 10 on the Hospice Care Index, which counts how many of ten visit, discharge and staffing indicators a hospice meets. Against the Texas average it is better on 1 of the indicators below and worse on 2.
| Indicator | Elara Caring | Texas average | U.S. average | vs. Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days (lower is better) | 72.7% | 62% | 52.4% | Worse |
| Patients discharged alive within 7 days (lower is better) | 5.7% | 7.6% | 7.3% | About the same |
| Patients discharged alive after 180 days or more (lower is better) | 45.7% | 36.9% | 37.4% | Worse |
| Live discharge followed by a hospital stay and readmission to hospice (lower is better) | 11.4% | 12.1% | 8.5% | About the same |
| Live discharge followed by death in hospital (lower is better) | 0% | 2% | 2.1% | About the same |
| Nurse minutes per routine home care day | 10.2 min | 11.6 min | 19.9 min | About the same |
| Share of skilled nursing minutes given on weekends | 9.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% | About the same |
| Patients visited by a nurse in the last 3 days of life | 91.5% | 88.1% | 89.3% | Better |
Separately, 99.3% of its patients received all seven recommended care steps at admission (Texas average 94.7%) and 67.6% were visited by a nurse or social worker on at least two of their last three days (Texas average 51%).
What do families say about Elara Caring?
85% of family caregivers said they would definitely recommend Elara Caring; the Texas average is 83%. The survey goes to the family member who was the main caregiver, after the patient has died.
| Survey question | Elara Caring | Texas average | U.S. average | vs. Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team always communicated well | 80% | 81% | 82% | About the same |
| Team always provided timely help | 80% | 77% | 78% | Better |
| Team always treated the patient with respect | 89% | 90% | 91% | About the same |
| Right amount of emotional and spiritual support | 95% | 89% | 91% | Better |
| Patient always got help for pain and symptoms | 75% | 76% | 76% | About the same |
| Caregivers rated the hospice 9 or 10 | 83% | 81% | 83% | About the same |
| Would definitely recommend the hospice | 85% | 83% | 85% | About the same |
Where does Elara Caring deliver care, and to whom?
73% of elara caring's care is delivered at home and its largest patient group by diagnosis is heart and circulatory disease (26%). It has provided levels of care beyond routine home visits, such as continuous care at home or inpatient stays, in the last three years.
| Where care is delivered | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| At home | 73% |
| In assisted living | 13% |
| In a nursing facility | 12% |
| In a skilled nursing facility | 1% |
| Primary diagnosis | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| Heart and circulatory disease | 26% |
| Cancer | 22% |
| Dementia | 20% |
| Other conditions | 17% |
| Respiratory disease | 11% |
Which San Antonio-area ZIP codes does Elara Caring serve?
Elara Caring tells Medicare it serves 61 ZIP codes in San Antonio and Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe counties.
- 78002
- 78023
- 78070
- 78073
- 78101
- 78108
- 78109
- 78148
- 78154
- 78155
- 78163
- 78201
- 78202
- 78203
- 78204
- 78207
- 78209
- 78210
- 78211
- 78212
- 78213
- 78214
- 78216
- 78217
- 78218
- 78219
- 78220
- 78221
- 78222
- 78223
- 78224
- 78225
- 78226
- 78227
- 78228
- 78229
- 78230
- 78231
- 78232
- 78233
- 78237
- 78238
- 78239
- 78240
- 78242
- 78244
- 78245
- 78247
- 78248
- 78249
- 78250
- 78251
- 78253
- 78254
- 78256
- 78258
- 78259
- 78260
- 78261
- 78264
- 78266
What should you ask Elara Caring before choosing it?
Ask how often the nurse visits
72.7% of Elara Caring's patients went more than seven days without a nursing visit at some point, against 62% across Texas. Ask for the planned visit schedule in writing and who decides when it changes.
Ask how eligibility is reviewed
45.7% of its live discharges came after six months or more of care (Texas average 36.9%). Ask how often the doctor recertifies eligibility and what support is offered if a patient is discharged.
Ask where inpatient care happens
When symptoms cannot be managed at home, hospice provides short inpatient stays. Ask which facility they use and how far it is from the family.
Ask what the family is expected to do
Hospice supports the family caregiver; it does not replace one. Ask how many aide visits a week are typical and what happens overnight.
Which other hospices serve San Antonio, TX?
- Amedisys Hospice of San Antonio — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- New Life Hospice — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- River City Hospice & Palliative Care — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- River City Hospice of Texas, L.L.C. — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Acara — Hospice Care Index 9 of 10
- All County Home Health and Hospice — Hospice Care Index 9 of 10
All Medicare-certified hospices in San Antonio and Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe counties
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
Is Elara Caring Medicare-certified?
Yes. Elara Caring is certified by Medicare under provider number 451765 and has been since 2004.
What is Elara Caring's Hospice Care Index score?
10 out of 10 in the current Medicare data. The Texas average is 8.4.
How large is Elara Caring?
It cares for about 39 patients on an average day.
