KISSIMMEE, FL — Federal health inspectors found that Terrace of Kissimmee failed to arrange hospice services for residents requiring end-of-life care, according to findings from a complaint investigation completed on December 23, 2025. The facility was cited for two deficiencies during the inspection and has not submitted a plan of correction to regulators.
Facility Failed to Provide Hospice Access
The inspection, conducted in response to a formal complaint, determined that Terrace of Kissimmee did not meet federal requirements to arrange hospice services for residents or assist them in transferring to a facility that could provide such care. The deficiency was classified under regulatory tag F0849, which addresses a nursing facility's obligation to ensure residents have access to hospice when appropriate.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to either coordinate directly with a Medicare-certified hospice provider or help residents transfer to another facility where hospice services are available. This requirement exists because residents in long-term care settings may reach a point where curative treatment is no longer effective, and the focus of care should shift to comfort, pain management, and dignity in the final stages of life.
The scope and severity of the violation was rated at Level D, meaning it was isolated in nature and did not result in documented actual harm. However, inspectors noted there was potential for more than minimal harm to affected residents.
Why Hospice Access Matters in Nursing Homes
When a nursing home fails to arrange hospice care, residents may miss critical interventions designed specifically for end-of-life comfort. Hospice programs provide specialized services including pain management, emotional support, spiritual counseling, and family guidance that standard nursing home care does not typically cover with the same depth or focus.
Without hospice involvement, residents approaching the end of life may experience inadequately managed pain, unnecessary medical interventions, and a lower overall quality of life during their final days. Hospice teams are specifically trained in palliative symptom management — addressing not just physical discomfort but also the anxiety, confusion, and emotional distress that can accompany terminal decline.
Under federal standards outlined in 42 CFR § 483.65, nursing facilities are required to have arrangements in place with at least one hospice provider. The regulation is designed to ensure that no resident is denied access to comfort-focused care simply because of where they reside. Facilities that do not maintain these arrangements leave residents and their families without a clear pathway to services they are legally entitled to receive.
No Correction Plan on File
Perhaps the most concerning element of the inspection findings is that the facility has not submitted a plan of correction. When a nursing home is cited for a deficiency, federal protocol requires the provider to submit a detailed plan explaining how it will fix the problem and prevent it from recurring. The absence of such a plan means there is no documented commitment from Terrace of Kissimmee to address the gap in hospice access.
This was one of two total deficiencies identified during the December complaint investigation, both falling under the category of administration deficiencies. While the facility was not placed in immediate jeopardy status, the combination of a hospice access failure and no corrective action raises questions about administrative oversight at the facility.
What Families Should Know
Families with loved ones at Terrace of Kissimmee — or any nursing facility — have the right to request hospice services at any time when a physician determines that a resident has a life expectancy of six months or fewer. This right is protected under both Medicare regulations and the Nursing Home Reform Act.
If a facility does not have a hospice arrangement in place, it is required by law to assist the resident in transferring to a location where hospice can be provided. Families who believe their loved one is being denied appropriate end-of-life care can file a complaint with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration or contact the state's long-term care ombudsman program.
The full inspection report for Terrace of Kissimmee is available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and provides additional detail on both deficiencies cited during the December 2025 investigation.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Terrace of Kissimmee, The from 2025-12-23 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.