The decision to begin hospice can be difficult, but you don't have to do it alone. If you think you or a loved one would benefit from hospice care, please call a Care Coordinator at Goldencare Hospice and Palliative Care at (855)655-0500. 24/7 Admissions and Care.
One of our admissions coordinators will be happy to answer your questions and help you get started. Next, with your permission, we will work with your doctor to determine if hospice is right for you.
The patient must have a life-limiting condition or terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less, either due to a specific diagnosis or a combination of factors. At the end of six months, the patient will be reassessed to determine if hospice is still appropriate considering the progress of the disease. While determining life expectancy is not an exact science, the recent legislation states that “a physician’s certification of a patient is based on clinical judgment regarding the normal course of illness.”
The patient must be aware of their condition and both the patient and family must agree to hospice care, accepting palliative care over curative treatment.
A patient who might be eligible for and benefit from hospice care may demonstrate some of these symptoms:
Loss of interest in activities
Not “bouncing back” after an illness
Not responding to current treatments or therapy
Not sleeping through the night due to pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms
Loss of appetite
Confusion
Wounds that are not healing
Unplanned weight loss
Loss of speech
Excessive sleeping throughout the day
Multiple hospital visit/stays in the past six months
Excessive swelling of the legs and ankles, even when feet are propped up
Difficulty breathing, even at rest or with increased oxygen levels
Weakness during activities of daily living
Frequent changes in medications
Pain that is poorly controlled
Infections
Anyone can call Goldencare Hospice and Palliative care to receive information about our services. We offer support to patients and families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will also contact physicians to ensure that patients are eligible for the hospice benefit.
Only a licensed physician can make a referral to hospice, but once that referral is made we can start to help. We'll send one of our friendly, knowledgeable admissions nurses to visit you where ever you are. Usually, an admissions nurse will visit you within 24 hours of a referral being made. Your admissions nurse will learn about your family and find out how we can best serve you and help determine what sorts of care, medicines, equipment, and supplies you need. This is your journey, so share with your admissions nurse any needs or concerns you have. Every family is different and we will strive to meet you where you are. Once the admissions nurse's visit is completed, you will receive several deliveries of supplies, medicine, and equipment to help you prepare for your journey with us.
Eligibility Criteria: Ask yourself these questions regarding your family member:
Has patient had more than two hospitalizations for the same reason in the last 12 months? (Yes/No)
Without dieting, has the patient lost more than 10% of his/her body weight in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient had multiple falls in the last few months? (Yes/No)
Did the patient begin continuously wearing oxygen in the last few months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient lost the ability to walk in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient lost the ability to bathe themselves in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient become incontinent in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient lost the ability to feed themselves in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient lost the ability to communicate in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient become bed bound in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient had aspiration pneumonia in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Has the patient had a urinary tract infection in the last six months? (Yes/No)
Does the patient have a new decubitus ulcer? (Yes/No)
Is the patients palliative performance scale less than 40%? (Yes/No)
If you answered “yes” to four or more questions, then you or your family member should seek a hospice evaluation. Please contact Goldencare Hospice & Palliative Care (855)655-0500 to speak with the Admissions Coordinator.
Over the next few days, you will meet your case manager, nurse aide, social worker and spiritual care coordinator. These teammates will support you during your care and will be in touch as often as you need.
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