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Hospice Care: Is it time?

Is it time to consider hospice?

Answering these questions can help:

  • Have you had several hospitalizations or visits to the emergency room over the last six months?
  • Have you been informed by physician of limited life expectancy?
  • Have you increase your medication for physical pain?
  • Have you had several falls within the last six months?
  • Have you made frequent phone calls to physicians’ office?
  • Is the majority of day spent in bed or chair?
  • Do you require assistance with two or more of the following: getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, walking, eating?
  • Do you have a noticeable shortness of breath, even at rest?
  • Do you feel more tired and weaker overall?
  • Have you experienced dramatic weight loss, are your clothes noticeable looser?

Is it time to consider hospice for your loved one?

Three Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Does your loved one have any of the following illnesses:

    1. Cancer
    2. Heart disease
    3. Dementia/Alzheimer’s
    4. Respiratory disease
    5. Stroke
    6. Kidney disease
    7. ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease

2. Have you noticed your loved one declining

    1. Medication or treatments are no longer effective
    2. They have stopped getting further tests/refusing to go to the hospital
    3. Weight loss/loose fitting clothes
    4. They have had multiple hospitalizations
    5. They are experiencing increased confusion
    6. They are experiencing increased weakness
    7. They are unable to perform normal activities of daily living
      • Dressing
      • Eating
      • Transferring
      • Toileting
      • Personal hygiene

3. Have you discussed your loved ones wishes

    1. What are the preferences of your loved one in regards to end of life care
    2. The hospice team can create a care plan that will honor their wishes

If you have questions about hospice appropriateness, please contact us and we can help answer your questions.

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