When is it Time for Hospice Care? Signs to Know

When do you know it's time to let your loved one move forward on their end-of-life journey? When is it time for hospice, and when should you fight for more?

It's a difficult, seemingly impossible, decision. Many people worry that they're considering it far too soon. Hospice isn't about planning the last few days of someone's life. It can go on for a longer period of time, but making the decision to enter hospice in itself can improve the level of quality of life a person has during that time.

Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, quality of life, symptom management, and support for the individual and their family. It is appropriate when an illness is life-limiting. Starting hospice sooner gives families more time to benefit from the services available.

Sometimes knowing when to consider hospice means acknowledging that your loved one deserves a better quality of life. Starting this conversation with healthcare providers before a crisis occurs creates better control over this portion of life.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice provides care for people with a life-limiting illness. Instead of focusing on recovery, the goal is to improve comfort and quality of life. That's done with proper pain and symptom management, emotional and social support, and spiritual support when desired.

Hospice doesn't have a time frame. It can last days, months, or even years. During that time, an individual and their family receive the type and level of support they need to live the best quality of life possible. Care is personalized.

At Mozaic, our hospice services for seniors and others involve the creation of an individualized plan to address their needs and the family's goals. We educate, support, and guide you through the process with confidence.

7 Signs it May be Time to Consider Hospice Care

Here's where to start thinking about hospice. Work through these seven areas to see how you or your family member fit into these scenarios.

1. A Serious Illness Continues to Progress

The individual has a condition that will limit the length of their life or has advanced beyond treatment. Hospice eligibility is a very individualized assessment of your needs and the medical options available.

2. Hospitalizations or Emergency Room Visits are Becoming More Frequent

Progressing conditions typically warrant more advanced medical care. If you're seeing more hospitalizations, trips to the ER, and complications from treatment provided, it's time to consider long-term objectives. Specifically, if hospitalizations like these are causing significant turmoil, pain, or challenges to quality of life, consider what that may mean.

3. There is a Noticeable Decline in Overall Health

When you think about when hospice should be considered, take a step back. Are you seeing the following:

• Increasing weakness
• Reduced mobility
• More painful mobility
• Greater fatigue
• Trouble performing everyday activities
• Increasing dependence on caregivers
• Functional or cognitive decline

Hospice eligibility doesn't align with just one of these areas, and illnesses can often improve. When that's not happening more frequently, moving towards hospice may be the path for you to take.

4. Symptoms are Becoming More Difficult to Manage

Disease causes pain and discomfort. It makes everyday tasks exhausting. You may notice symptoms like the following that can't easily be controlled as they were in the past:

• Increasing pain
• Limitations on what they can do for themselves
• Shortness of breath
• Discomfort with sensations
• Symptoms associated with the advancing of their disease

Hospice is often about reducing that pain and allowing for less suffering. Mozaic's skilled nursing team, with physician oversight, provides relief.

5. More Help is Needed with Everyday Activities

Limitations are growing, especially in areas like these:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Eating
• Mobility
• Personal hygiene
• Eating and drinking

Notice an increased need for support with these activities of daily living. Just needing help isn't enough for hospice care. But when symptoms are advancing, it may be time to think about the process.

6. Treatment Goals are Shifting Toward Comfort

One of the most important signs that it may be time for hospice is this shift. It happens at different times for each person. You'll notice that your loved one's priorities are no longer the same. They don't want treatment and are not looking for a way to cure their illness.

Instead, they want to feel okay, have meaningful conversations with family, and spend time doing things they love instead of being in the hospital. Symptom relief, dignity, and quality of life are now priorities.

7. A Healthcare Provider Recommends Hospice

Listen to your healthcare provider openly and honestly. Ask critical questions, even those you really are afraid to learn the answers to, so you can see clearly what is happening. A physician has a more advanced understanding of disease mechanisms and the science behind what's happening. Ask questions such as:

• Why are you recommending hospice now?
• What services would hospice provide that could make things easier?
• What can we expect over the coming weeks or months on hospice?
• Where can hospice care be provided?
• How will symptoms be managed differently?
• What support is available to our family?

Who Qualifies for Hospice Care?

Healthcare professionals typically assess the situation and provide insight into all of the possible steps forward. For hospice with Medicare, eligibility requires that a hospice provider and the patient's regular doctor certify that the person is terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its normal course. Hospice eligibility doesn't expire if a person lives beyond that time.

Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What's the Difference?

Consider palliative care vs hospice. Palliative care during serious illness provides support alongside treatment aimed at recovery. Palliative care is about managing and treating the underlying condition with the goal of recovery or longevity, but alleviating the pain and symptoms that come with it.

Hospice care is appropriate when the disease is terminal. Care is no longer about cure but comfort and quality of life.

Hospice vs palliative care are very different, and both can be sought at different times in a disease's progression. However, it can be hard to see the difference between hospice and palliative care for family members. But there is a clear distinction based on the goals of care.

Where Can Hospice Care Be Provided?

Hospice care does not require moving into a hospice facility. It can occur wherever a person is living. This may include their private residence, assisted living community, nursing home, or another residential setting.

Hospice care at home enables a person to spend more time within their home. In-home hospice care can be easier for many people.

What Does Hospice Care Include?

When you start to see the signs it may be time for hospice, speak to us about what you or your loved one's needs and goals are. Hospice care can be highly specialized to address any needs, which might include:

• Physician oversight to guide care and support
• Pain and symptom management that's appropriate for your experiences
• Medication management to reduce side effects and improve your comfort
• Medical social workers to help families and individuals navigate the very real process
• Volunteer support to provide encouragement and community
• Medical equipment coordination to ensure you have exactly what you need
• Spiritual care that aligns with your needs and goals
• Bereavement counseling for family members navigating the intense emotions
• 24/7 on-call support – you are never alone facing this process

We provide a team approach. Every person's unique needs are met in a way that aligns with their objectives. Some families need and want more hands-on help than others do. You may need support making those decisions. Talk with our team about what hospice care may look like in your situation.

How Hospice Supports Family Caregivers

Family caregivers often feel they need to handle this all for their spouse, parent, or loved one. Yet, when you allow our hospice care services to step in, you can spend more time creating meaningful memories. It doesn't make it easier or take away the pain and fear. What it can do is provide more understanding of your options to relieve pain and provide a better quality of life.

Hospice isn't solely about the patient. It's also a resource for families in several ways. At Mozaic, you can expect:

• Education on what to expect at every stage
• Help understanding when and how care needs are changing
• Emotional support from compassionate providers
• Guidance with difficult decisions with no pressure and ample privacy
• Spiritual support when desired
• Bereavement resources

Many wonder how they will navigate this journey. Our bereavement counseling and grief services help you navigate the path with someone by your side.

Don't Wait for a Crisis to Ask about Hospice

Families don't have to be certain that hospice is the right decision before asking about it. If your health or that of a loved one is declining, having a conversation now matters. If any of the following occurs, it may be time to just have the conversation:

• Health is declining with limited opportunities for improvement
• Hospitalization stays are increasing
• Symptoms are more prevalent and harder to treat
• An individual's priorities are changing

Asking about hospice does not obligate someone to enroll. It gives you the information and resources you need to make the best decision for your loved one. Take the time to learn what hospice may mean for you.

Learn More About Hospice Care at Mozaic Senior Life

When should hospice be considered in your situation? You don't have to have an answer or make a decision just yet. Consider the personal, physical, and emotional needs of all involved. If you're not sure whether hospice is appropriate, contact Mozaic’s' hospice team to ask questions. There is no pressure to move forward. Allow us to help you with eldercare navigation at any stage.

How do you know when it's time for hospice?

You'll know when it's time for hospice as your condition worsens and treatment options become less viable. The signs someone needs hospice can change rapidly.

What are the signs that someone may need hospice care?

The signs it may be time for hospice care can differ among people based on conditions. Look for changes in treatment options, more reliance on caregivers, less quality of life, and increased pain.

Does someone have to be bedbound (aka bedridden) to qualify for hospice?

Various factors contribute to who qualifies for hospice. Most of the time, being bedridden is not a qualification.

Can someone receive hospice care for longer than six months?

It's hard to know how long someone can be in hospice. It can certainly last longer than six months.

Can hospice care be provided at home?

In-home hospice care can be highly desirable for many. With the proper hospice care at home, your loved one can remain where they want to be.

What's the difference between hospice and palliative care?

Hospice vs palliative care is a fine line. Palliative care supports healing and recovery, and hospice focuses on quality of life instead.

Can someone leave hospice if their condition improves?

Yes, a person can leave hospice if their health improves or they no longer meet the eligibility requirements. It can be considered again later as needed.