Moving a loved one to hospice care is never an easy decision, but sometimes, a doctor orders it. We all want to feel we are doing everything we can for our family. The best way to do that is to deepen our understanding of important medical decisions. 

This guide will help you understand when doctors typically order hospice care and why and if hospice care is required. We’ll also provide tips to help you choose the best hospice care provider. 

Key Takeaways

• Doctors usually order hospice care when a patient has 6 months or less to live based on the typical course of their illness. However, there is no set timeline for ordering hospice care, and the decision will vary.
  
  

• Doctors may recommend hospice care when the patient experiences unpleasant symptoms, the illness is no longer curable, or the treatment is something the patient does not wish to do.
  
  

• When deciding on a hospice care provider, research certifications, history, and reputation. Also look into that provider’s available programs, and contact them to form your own impression.

  
  

When Does a Doctor Usually Order Hospice Care?

The decision to transfer a patient to hospice care revolves around the shift in goals for treatment. 

Simon Beg MD, from Spectrum Health, explains:

“A hospice is a part of medicine that is utilized when someone has a terminal illness that can’t be cured… Hospice focuses on quality of life.”

This means that the goal of treatment shifts to care for relieving unpleasant symptoms such as pain, nausea, or anxiety rather than curative care. 

The course of a patient’s illness also plays a role in the decision. Doctors order hospice care when a patient’s condition predicts a life expectancy of 6 months or less. 

However, no set timeline or concrete rules call for a hospice order. Doctors evaluate a patient’s eligibility for hospice regularly. In other words, patients can often receive hospice care for longer than 6 months, determined by continuous evaluations. 

This eligibility and the patient’s condition determines the decision to transfer a patient to hospice care from a medical professional’s perspective. However, it’s a tough decision, and families reserve the right to decide when they wish to switch the care of their loved one. 

Why Do Doctors Recommend Hospice Care?

Although it’s a personal decision for families to switch their loved one to hospice care, there are several reasons and instances doctors recommend it. The primary purpose of hospice care is to relieve unpleasant or burdensome symptoms caused by a patient’s illness or treatments and ease their condition for the remainder of their life.

The question of switching to this more relief-focused style of care revolves around the patient’s quality of life. A doctor may consider hospice care if the burden or symptoms of a patient’s curative treatment outweigh the benefits. 

Hospice treatment seeks only to relieve unpleasant symptoms of a patient’s illness, such as pain, or burdens of curative treatment, such as frequent hospital visits. The treatments themselves, such as the side effects of chemotherapy, can also place a heavy strain on the patient’s body and can lead doctors to consider the switch.

If you are considering hospice care for your loved one, you can use Trustworthy to make it easy to access and view your family’s documents and medical records. That way, healthcare professionals can easily assist you in choosing the best care for your loved one.

Is Hospice Care Required?

If your doctor recommends transferring your loved one to hospice care, it’s essential to remember that it’s not required. The decision to transfer a patient to hospice care lies with the patient and their family. 

After a doctor orders or recommends hospice care, you can always meet with them to discuss possible options for treatment or hospice providers. If your family has an established caregiver for your loved one, you can also request the doctor discuss options with them.

You can use our in-depth guide to improve the essential communication line between caregivers and doctors. It’s best to avoid misunderstandings or delays, especially in decisions regarding your loved one’s care and the best course of action. 

Our family operating system provides secure storage for your family’s documents and information so trusted doctors can easily access them to simplify the decision-making process. 

Some possible options include hospice homes or hospice care at home. You can choose to treat your loved one in the way you believe will provide them the best quality of life.  

Tips for Selecting a Hospice Care Provider

After deciding you want to transfer your loved one to hospice care, the next challenging decision is selecting a hospice care provider. A hospice care provider should always prioritize their patients' quality of life and comfort. Here are some tips when choosing a provider to ensure you find the right place for your loved one. 

Check Certifications and Licenses

The first tip is to find hospice care providers certified or licensed by your state. Or, if you already have a potential provider you are looking into, be sure to check out the specific certifications they have on display.

Your loved one will be in somebody else’s care, and there is no better feeling than knowing they are in good hands. A certification can assure you that your loved one will receive professional care from licensed providers.

Research History and Reputation

In addition to the certified skills that a provider has to show, it’s equally as crucial to research the history and reputation of a provider. For example, how long have they been providing care, and do they have good reviews? Any information you can gather on them before you move further is helpful. 

You can better understand what kind of care they will provide and how others have rated their facilities/programs. The more information you gather, the better idea you will have and the more reassured you can be in your decision.

Look Into the Hospice Programs Available

Depending on their personality, condition, and other factors, your loved one has particular needs. You must look into each provider's specific programs and treatments to decide which suits them best.

This tip goes hand in hand with the previous two. Even though some providers have excellent reputations, they may not be able to treat your loved one the way they require. Conversely, even if a provider has excellent treatment programs available, they may not have the best reputation for how they treat patients.

Don’t Make the Decision Alone

Another helpful tip is to involve your loved one (if they are able) or close family/friends in decision-making. They will have a better idea than anyone what kind of provider would be best for them.

However, we understand having a conversation of this nature is not always easy. To help you broach this challenging subject, you can use our simple guide on discussing care of this nature.

At Trustworthy, we provide a resource for your family to use for settling affairs and creating seamless communication and sharing between family. Our family operating system offers a unique, safe storage space for your family’s documents and information. 

While you find a provider, having all of the medical information and necessary documents in one easy-to-access place can take a significant load off your shoulders.

Explore Any Special Services

Outside of the programs the provider has available, it’s also worth researching their additional services. For example, look at how they respond to medical emergencies, support patients outside of primary treatment, and make an effort to communicate with families of patients. 

You want to be sure you can contact and reach out to a provider with no worries in case of any sudden circumstances. These additional offerings are also important in choosing the best provider for you and your loved one.

Form an Impression

You can research, read reviews, and learn about programs, but calling or visiting the provider can be helpful to get a first-hand impression. You can gauge how responsive they are and how understanding they’ll be of your loved one’s particular needs.

Forming an impression can give you just as good an idea as researching a provider beforehand. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does it mean when a doctor orders hospice care?

When a doctor orders hospice care, they recommend treatment focused more on relieving a patient’s symptoms rather than curing their condition. This decision prioritizes a patient’s quality of life for their remaining time. 

Who decides when a patient goes to hospice?

Ultimately, a patient and the patient’s family can decide when a patient goes to hospice. While a doctor can recommend the switch, it is never a requirement. 

Can a doctor put a patient in hospice?

A doctor can recommend that a patient be put on hospice care instead of their regular curative treatments if they feel the burden of the illness/treatment outweighs any possible benefits.

Who decides on end-of-life care?

A patient’s family or loved ones will be responsible for deciding whether a patient is transferred to end-of-life care and are likely responsible for determining what provider they will send the patient to.

How long before death does end-of-life care start?

Doctors typically recommend patients begin end-of-life care if they are expected to live 6 months or less. However, there is no set time frame for starting end-of-life care. The decision will depend on the patient’s illness and current condition.