| |

What Is Hospice? | How Does Hospice Work? | Who Will Take Care of Me?
Why Should I Consider Hospice? | When Is It Time for Hospice?

When Is It Time For Hospice?
While no one can predict the physical course of one’s life, history has taught us some valuable indicators about the life cycles. At HWC, our referral/admission team can help you determine when the time is appropriate for hospice care at home.

The following is a quick reference to see if Hospice Care is the answer.

Have you or your loved one…

• been hospitalized or gone to the emergency room several times in the past 6 months?
• been making more frequent phone calls to your physicians?
• started taking medication to lessen physical pain?
• started spending most of the day in a chair or in bed?
• fallen several times over the past 6 months?
• started needing help from other with:
  bathing, dressing, eating, cooking, getting out of bed, or walking?
• started feeling weaker or more tired?
• experienced weight loss so that clothes are noticeably looser?
• noticed a shortness of breath, even while resting?
• been told by a doctor that life expectancy is limited?
  Adapted from NHPCO

If you answered ‘yes’ to 4 or more of these questions, then you or your loved one could be eligible for hospice care. HWC can help manage the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and support the needs of the family/friends support system as they deal with issues related to their loved one’s life-limiting illness.

To learn more about hospice services through HWC or to make a referral, please call us anytime at 301-791-6360 or during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm, online [click here].