When to Consider Hospice
You may want to consider hospice care for yourself or your loved one if any or all of the following are present:
- Progressively declining health, despite treatment
- Increased or uncontrollable pain
- Multiple hospitalizations in a 12-month timeframe (especially for the same/recurrent issue)
- Repeat or multiple infections (or the patient responds poorly to treatments)
- Progressive or profound weight loss, weakness or fatigue
- Shortness of breath with or without oxygen
- Decreased ability to perform regular activities of daily living
- Progression of symptoms of dementia
- Wounds that do not heal (could indicate a decline in overall status)
- Exhausted patient and family or caregivers (could indicate a decline in overall status)
- The desire of the patient and/or family to stop treatments
- Increase in assistance for ambulation or transfers (could indicate a decline in overall status)
- Sitting balance issues – unable to sit upright without assistive device (could indicate a decline in overall status)
For additional information or schedule a consult, please call Hanover Hospice Services at 508-675-7583