How do you know when it's time?

There is rarely one clear moment. But there are signs families notice, often long before anyone says the word hospice out loud. Recognizing them is not giving up. It is a loving step toward comfort.

An older woman looking out of a window, resting

The signs families tell us about.

None of these on its own means it is time. Several of them together usually means the conversation is worth having.

  • A doctor has said the illness is life-limiting, or that treatment options are running out
  • More trips to the hospital or the emergency room over the last six months
  • Treatment that no longer seems to be working, or no longer feels worth what it costs them
  • Needing help with dressing, bathing, eating, or getting to the bathroom
  • Losing weight or appetite without trying
  • Short of breath, even sitting still
  • Falls, or unsteadiness getting around the house
  • Sleeping much more, and spending most of the day in a bed or a chair
  • Infections that keep coming back
  • Memory or awareness slipping noticeably
  • The family is exhausted, and the care at home has outgrown what one person can give
A daughter sitting close to her mother, their hands held together

Four questions.

This is a conversation starter, not a medical assessment. Answer honestly and we will tell you what we would tell you on the phone.

Has the person been to hospital or an emergency room more than once in the last six months?
Do they need help with everyday things — dressing, bathing, eating, or moving around?
Have they lost weight, appetite or strength over the last few months?
Has treatment stopped working, or stopped feeling worth it to them?

What families get told, and what is actually true.

A family gathered quietly around a relative at home

What happens after you call.

1

We talk

A short call. What is happening, what has been said, what you are worried about.

2

We visit

A hospice nurse comes to wherever the patient is, usually within a day.

3

We coordinate

We speak to the attending physician and handle the paperwork and the orders.

4

Care begins

Equipment and medication arrive, and the visit schedule starts.

A hospice nurse listening to a patient during a home visit
Medication being sorted and explained on a kitchen table
A hospice nurse with a hand resting gently on a patient's shoulder

Still not sure? That's the normal place to be.

Call and ask. If it is not time yet, we will tell you that plainly.

Call 847-779-3989Contact us