When Is Hospice Recommended?

Hospice Care May Be the Right Step

People turn to medical specialists during serious illness because they want the best care possible. Hospice is no different—it’s a specialized team focused on compassion, comfort, dignity, and support for end-of life care.

Generally, hospice care works best when started sooner. Families often tell us they wish they had called earlier. Research has shown people receiving hospice services live an average of 29 days longer than those who do not. That’s more time for comfort, more time for peace, and more time for meaningful moments with loved ones.†

General Hospice Guideliness It May Be Time to Consider Hospice

Below are general guidelines to help you and your physician decide if hospice may be appropriate. If three or more of these signs are present, it’s time to have a conversation about hospice services.

• Frequent hospitalizations
• Decrease in functional ability
• Significant weight loss (10% or more in the past 6 months)
• A decline in mental status
• Terminal diagnosis
• Recurrent infections
• Frequent falls
• Pain requiring frequent medication increases
• Trouble with swallowing
• Shortness of breath
• Sleeping more / fatigue
• Weakness
• Decline or loss of ability to walk without assistance
• Decline or loss of ability to dress without assistance
• Decline or loss of ability to feed self without assistance
• Decline or loss of ability to bath without assistance
• Loss of ability to transfer without assistance
• Urinary or fecal incontinence
• Decubitus ulcers (also known as pressure ulcers or bed sores)
• Edema (swelling)
• Loss of ability to speak or communicate effectively
• Intractable cough
• Nausea/vomiting poorly responsive to treatment
• Co-morbid conditions that contribute to a prognosis of 6 months or less (i.e.-diabetes, dementia)
• Inability to sit up without assistance
• Loss of ability to smile
• Loss of ability to hold up head independently
• Intractable diarrhea
• Changes in consciousness

Common Life-Limiting Illnesses That May Benefit from Hospice

Those who suffer from common life-limiting illnesses including but not limited to the ones in the following list also benefit from hospice care:

• AIDS/HIV
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Neurological disease
• Pulmonary disease
• Renal disease
• Respiratory disease
• Stroke or coma

†Source: Comparing hospice and nonhospice patient survival

Every situation is unique. These guidelines are just the start of a conversation about hospice. If you’re wondering whether it’s time for hospice, we can help you review your options, answer questions, and explain how hospice care is covered.