When Do I Need Hospice?

Hospice care can begin when curative treatment is no longer expected to be effective. All hospice programs in Kansas have admission guidelines. Ask your hospice to share these with you. Generally, most hospices expect that:

1. The patient has a medical diagnosis of an "end-stage disease". This means the attending physician has determined, with the patient/family, that nothing more is planned to cure the patient's disease.

2. The patient has a life expectancy that is measured in months.

3. The patient/family is ready for comfort care and ready to ease aggressive treatment aimed toward cure.

4. There will need to be a primary care person who is available to take care of the patient. The primary care person is an individual-family member, friend, or hired companion-who accepts 24-hour responsibility for the patient. This is especially important as the patient begins to require more care and supervision.

5. The patient has an attending physician who is willing to certify the patient's diagnosis and prognosis and who is willing to work with the hospice team.

6. The patient lives within the geographic location served by the local hospice program.