When is It Time to Choose Hospice?

We understand choosing hospice is one of the most important decisions you will make. Appropriate and timely enrollment in hospice increases the likelihood that individuals and their families can benefit from the comfort and support the entire hospice team provides. See below for disease specific hospice eligibility guidelines.

Hospice may be right for you if you or a loved one:

• Are receiving life-prolonging treatment that is no longer helpful or are tired of continuing aggressive treatments for an illness
• Have trouble managing a chronic illness
• Are having increased forgetfulness
• Have been making more calls to the doctor for assistance
• Are falling more frequently
• Are having frequent hospitalizations in the past few months
• Are slowly losing weight without trying
• Are having less desire to eat or drink
• Are spending more time of day in a chair or bed
• Are more tired throughout the day or experiencing decreased alertness
• Are feeling increasingly weaker
• Have difficulty breathing with minimal effort or when resting
• Are having frequent or recurrent infections
• Are having uncontrolled pain
• Decreased ability to perform daily tasks, requiring increased assistance with tasks like using the bathroom, eating, personal care, getting dressed, or walking
• Desire to focus on quality of life and comfort as opposed to aggressive curative care

If any of the above statements apply to you or a loved one, hospice may be right for you.  For more information, please fill out our contact form or give us a call at 734-470-3901 and our team would be more than happy to answer your questions. If you are uncertain if it is time for hospice, the Honor Hospice team is available to come provide a free assessment and consultation to discuss the options available to you.

Non-Disease Specific Baseline Hospice Eligibility Guidelines

Both criteria 1 and 2 should be met to support hospice eligibility.

1. Physiologic impairment of functional status demonstrated by a score < 70% using either:
   1. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS)
   2. Palliative Performance Scale (PPS)
2. Dependence on assistance for two or more of the following activities of daily living (ADLs):
   1. Feeding
   2. Bathing
   3. Dressing
   4. Toileting
   5. Ambulation (walking/moving)
   6. Transfer

Co-morbidities

Although not the primary hospice diagnosis, the presence of certain co-morbidities should be considered in determining hospice eligibility, as the severity of these conditions is likely to contribute to a life expectancy of six months or less. These co-morbidities may include:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Ischemic heart disease
• Dementia
• Renal failure
• Diabetes mellitus
• Liver disease
• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
• Neurologic disease (CVA, ALS, MS, Parkinson’s)
• Neoplasia

Disclaimer:

Please note that the information provided on this page is intended for general guidance purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Each individual’s situation is unique, and eligibility for hospice care should be assessed by qualified healthcare professionals.