Guide To Hospice Eligibility


Not all criteria must be met in order for a person to qualify for their hospice benefit. Please request an evaluation whether or not all ailments appy.

What To Consider

Different areas that would be for Hospice

  • Advance Cancer
    Chemotherapy and/or radiation terminated
    Increasing pain
    Progressive weight loss
    Requiring increased assistance with ADL’s
  • General Decline/ Failure to Thrive
    Weight loss/inability to maintain adequate nutrition/hydration
    Decline in functional/cognitive status
    Frequent infections and recurrent fever
    Incontinence
    Problems swallowing/aspiration pneumonia
    Decubitus ulcers
    Persistent agitation and/or pain
  • Dementia
    Unable to walk, dress or bath self without assistance
    Increasing loss of bowel/bladder control
    Speech limited to six words or less
    Frequent infections
    Decubitus ulcers
    Significant or progressive weight loss (greater than 10% over the last 6 months)
  • Heart Disease
    Symptoms of congestive heart failure (shortness of breath, edema, fatigue) despite optimal treatment with medications
    Poor left ventricular function
    Symptomatic arrhythmias resistant to therapy
    History of cardiac arrest and resuscitation in any setting
    History of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots or syncope
  • Lung Disease
    Shortness of breath at rest
    Oxygen and/or steroid dependent
    History of respiratory infections
    Multiple pulmonary medications with poor response to bronchodilators
    Prior episodes of respiratory failure
    Copious or purulent sputum
    Weight loss
    Rapid heart rate
  • Neurological
    Includes Stroke, Parkinson’s, MS, ALS
    Essentially Chair-bound or bed-bound
    Decrease in appetite or intake
    Difficulty speaking or swallowing
    Loss of bowel/bladder control
    Paralysis; dependent with ADL’s
    Frequent infections
    Persistent agitation
    Decreasing level of consciousness
    Decubitus Ulcers
  • Liver Disease
    History of hepatitis and/or abdominal infections (peritonitis)
    Gastro-intestinal bleeding
    Abdominal Swelling (ascites)
    Increase in confusion or decrease in level of consciousness
    Active alcohol abuse
    INR>1.5, Serum Albumin<2.5