Getting started
Who qualifies for hospice — and when to call
Hospice is for people whose doctor believes they likely have six months or less to live if their illness follows its normal course. That's the whole rule. You don't need to be certain — a free, no-obligation evaluation settles it.
Signs it may be time to talk about hospice
No single sign decides it. But when several of these are true, it's worth a conversation — with your doctor, or directly with us:
- Repeated hospitalizations or ER visits in the past six months
- Noticeable weight loss or loss of appetite
- Increasing pain, breathlessness, or fatigue despite treatment
- More of the day spent sleeping or in bed
- Needing help with dressing, bathing, eating, or walking that wasn't needed before
- A physician saying further treatment offers little benefit
- Recurring infections
- The patient saying they're tired of treatments or hospital stays
Eligibility by condition
Every illness follows its own path. Our condition guides explain what hospice teams look for — in plain language.
How the evaluation works
- 1. You call (or anyone calls for you). A nurse listens to the situation and answers questions — usually the most valuable ten minutes of the whole process.
- 2. We visit, free. A nurse assesses the patient wherever they live and reviews records with the physicians.
- 3. You decide. If the patient is eligible and the family says yes, care can begin within about 24 hours — here's what those first days look like.
Worried about cost? Don't be — Medicare covers hospice at 100%, and we explain exactly what hospice costs before anything starts.
Frequently asked questions
The only way to know for sure is to ask
A free eligibility evaluation, at home, with zero obligation. If it's not time yet, we'll tell you honestly.