Hospice Care

Hospice is a form of palliative or comfort care for individuals who are considered terminally ill. A terminally ill patient is one who has a progressive, incurable illness that will end in death despite the treatment, and likely in a short amount of time. 

Situations that may cause a doctor to recommend hospice care: 

• Malignant cancers, infections, and diseases 
• End-stage diseases such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, COPD, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease 
• Multiple medical complications or comorbidities 
• Failure to thrive, characterized by weight loss, dehydration, and wasting due to poor intake and immobility 
• Poor surgical candidate following a life-threatening event 
• Honoring an individual’s choice not to receive aggressive, curative care 

The Hospice Care Process 

• The attending doctor writes an order for a hospice evaluation. 
• The hospice nurse visits with you to perform the qualifying evaluation. 
• You and/or your designated responsible party approve the evaluation. 
• You may choose any hospice agency to provide… 

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