Is hospice care right for your loved one?
A doctor decides who qualifies, so you don’t have to work it out on your own. You can ask even if you’re not sure.
Signs that it may be time to ask
- When trips to the hospital or emergency room are becoming more frequent.
- When everyday activities, like walking, dressing or bathing, are getting harder.
- When your loved one is eating less, losing weight or getting weaker.
- When treatment no longer brings relief from pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms.
- When your loved one and the family would rather focus on comfort than on more treatment.
- When a doctor recommends hospice care.
These signs aren’t a test. They’re a reason to talk with us or with your loved one’s doctor.
What hospice care is not
- Not giving up
- Care continues. The goal moves from a cure to comfort, and the team keeps visiting according to the care plan.
- Not just the last days
- You don’t have to wait for a crisis to ask. Asking early gives your family time to understand the options.
- Not a hospital
- Hospice is a kind of care, not a building. The team usually comes to your loved one.
- Not a final decision
- The patient can stop hospice care at any time and go back to treatment for their illness.
How a doctor decides who qualifies
Who qualifies depends on the patient’s health and on the rules of their coverage. For Medicare to cover hospice care, all of these must be true:
- The patient has Medicare Part A.
- The hospice physician and the patient’s own doctor, if they have one, certify a terminal prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.
- The patient accepts comfort care instead of treatment aimed at curing the illness.
- The patient signs a statement choosing hospice care.
A prognosis is a doctor’s judgment, not a countdown or a promise. If the patient lives longer than expected, hospice care can continue as long as the hospice physician confirms that they still qualify.
The patient can stop hospice care at any time and go back to treatment for their illness. If they’re eligible later, they can choose hospice care again.
Medi-Cal and other plans may have their own rules. When we call you back, we can explain what applies in your situation.
You or a doctor can start the conversation
Your loved one or anyone in the family can contact us directly. You don’t need a doctor’s referral to ask.
A request or a referral doesn’t mean hospice care will start. A doctor first confirms whether the patient qualifies, and then the patient decides.
What to expect as a familyIf hospice care doesn’t fit right now
We’ll explain why and talk through what you can do next. Health can change, so you can contact us again later.
This is general information. A doctor confirms who qualifies.
If this is a medical emergency, call 911.
Not sure yet? Leave a request.
Tell us what’s happening. We’ll answer your questions and explain what comes next. A first conversation doesn’t commit you to anything.
You can leave a request any time, day or night.
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