What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is specialized care designed to support individuals and their loved ones during a life-limiting illness. The focus of care is on comfort and quality of life, rather than cure. Hospice care addresses the medical, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs of each patient while also being there to support their loved ones. The goal is to effectively manage a patient’s pain and symptoms

When is Hospice Care Appropriate?

To be eligible for hospice care, the patient’s doctor must certify that he or she has a terminal illness. These individuals choose palliative care that focuses on symptom management rather than curative treatment, as well as choose no extreme measures to sustain life. A registered nurse will perform an evaluation to assess the patient for eligibility criteria. Hospice-appropriate individuals may exhibit some or all of the following:

• Frequent hospitalizations or ER visits
• Progressive weight loss
• Deteriorating mental capacity
• Recurrent infections
• Overall decline in condition