Is It Time for Hospice?

Most people have questions about when it is appropriate to begin considering hospice care. Because of this, many unnecessarily delay receiving the benefits it offers.

How do you know when it is time? If you’re wondering this for yourself or a loved one, answering these questions honestly can help serve as a starting point.

Have you or a loved one … 

  1. Been hospitalized or gone to the emergency room several times in the past six months?
  2. Been contacting your physician more frequently?
  3. Started taking medication to try to relieve pain and symptoms?
  4. Begun spending most of the day in a chair or bed and have shortness of breath, even while resting?
  5. Fallen several times over the past six months?
  6. Started needing help from others with two or more of the following:
      • Getting in/out of bed
      • Bathing
      • Eating
      • Dressing
      • Walking
      • Speaking
  1. Experienced noticeable weight loss and weakness or fatigue?
  2. Experienced recurring infections?
  3. Begun having loss of bowel or bladder functions?
  4. Been diagnosed with a terminal illness or told by a physician that life expectancy is limited?

If you answered “yes” to four or more of these questions, then you or your loved one may be eligible for a hospice. Please contact your physician or one of our Heart to Heart Hospice locations for additional information about care and services.