There are many reasons for a person or family to seek the comfort and symptom management of hospice, including:

  • Frequent hospitalizations or trips to the ER.
  • An expressed desire not to go or return to the hospital.
  • Advanced age (greater than 90 years) with more than one condition or illness at the same time.
  • Multiple falls.
  • Reduced desire to eat, leading to significant weight loss, changes in body composition and increased chances of choking.
  • Sudden weight loss (5lbs in the last month or 10% or more of total body weight in the last 3 months.)
  • Lack of progress in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy or psychiatric rehabilitation.
  • Decreasing alertness, avoiding people and activities they would usually enjoy, increased sleeping or mental confusion.
  • Frequent, recurrent infections that respond poorly to treatment.
  • Bedsores (pressure ulcers).
  • Increased or uncontrolled pain affecting daily living.
  • Inability to perform tasks of daily living.
  • Shortness of breath that causes a decrease in activities of daily living.
  • A change in cardiac condition causing swelling and affecting daily living.