What are the signs that a patient may be ready for hospice?

Ready for Hospice

It is a common misconception that hospice is only appropriate when someone reaches a stage of extreme debilitation. Referring to hospice as soon as the prognosis points to hospice readiness means that your patients with life-limiting illness (and their families) receive valuable benefits that can enhance day-to-day life.

Don’t let your patients miss out on the added benefits of hospice support.

Support for patient and family
Physical and emotional comfort
Care wherever they call home
Symptom and pain management
Counseling and respite services
Focus on personal goals
Minimal disruptions to normal activities
Enhanced quality of life

Look 6-Months Ahead

The indications of hospice eligibility can be subtle and easily overlooked. It would be nice if there were a simple checklist that definitively pointed toward a 6-month prognosis, but prediction is often complex and layered.

Factors to Consider

Below are some factors to consider when evaluating if a patient may be clinically eligible for the added support of hospice. This is not an inclusive list, and the overlapping of these indicators, and other variables, collectively paint a unique “health portrait” which can affect prognosis.

Failure to rehabilitate
Needs more assistance with activities of daily living such as ambulation, transferring, dressing, bathing, feeding, toileting
Unintentional weight loss or gain
Decreased appetite or difficulty swallowing
Multiple hospitalizations or ER visits
Recurrent falls
Recent hip fracture
Recurrent infections
New or worsening wounds
New use of assistive device such as cane, walker or wheelchair
New or worsening incontinence
Decreased communication or change in socialization behavior
Significant loss or life event such as death of a spouse
Added complexity of cognitive impairment
Requires a change in care setting
Missed physician visits

Still Not Sure?

Still not sure about a particular patient? We can help. Our nurses and physicians are equipped to look at a patient’s clinical and functional “portrait” to determine eligibility status.