Hospice care can be started when a physician determines that the patient’s life expectancy is less than six months, given the illness follows its typical progression. The physician can certify the patient’s care to be extended if your loved one lives past the 6-month mark.
If four or more of these apply to you, hospice might be the answer:
- Patient wants their care to be focused on providing comfort instead of curing their illness
- Hospitalizations or emergency room trips happen frequently in the past 6 months
- Non-healing wounds or reoccurring infections
- Less desire to eat, causing weight loss with changes in body composition.
- Health has visibly declined over the previous 6 months despite medical treatment
- Uncontrolled pain, nausea, vomiting or trouble breathing even at rest
- Physician has determined life expectancy is 6 months or less
- Cannot perform activities for daily living: eating, walking, bathing or using the restroom
- Patient wishes to focus on improving their quality of life instead of pursuing aggressive treatment