Hospice eligibility
Asking early can give your family more support.
Eligibility is based on the clinical picture, the patient’s goals, and physician certification. A conversation can help you understand whether it is time for an evaluation.
Talk with a care coordinator
Signs it may be time to ask
- More hospitalizations, emergency visits, or infections
- Weight loss, weakness, or more time spent in bed
- Pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms becoming harder to manage
- Less benefit from disease-directed treatments
- Increasing help needed with everyday activities
- The patient wishes to focus on comfort and meaningful time
How eligibility is determined
Generally, a physician must certify that a person has a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its usual course. This is not a deadline: some patients receive hospice longer when they remain eligible.
The patient also elects to focus on comfort care rather than curative treatment for the terminal diagnosis.
A conversation can help
You do not have to decide everything today.
Tell us what questions you have. We will explain the options with clarity and respect.