---
description: Knowing when to refer a patient for a hospice evaluation can be difficult. When a hospice referral is made, the hospice team can do a consultative visit to determine if someone is eligible to start hospice care.
title: When is it time for Hospice? - Hospice of Douglas County
image: https://hospicedouglascounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-8057373.jpg
---

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## When is it time for Hospice?

Knowing when to refer a patient for a hospice evaluation can be difficult. Some signs that may indicate eligibility for hospice care are:

- Frequent hospitalizations
- Progressive weight loss
- Deteriorating mental abilities
- Recurrent infections
- Disease-specific declines
- Decrease in functional ability
- Not “bouncing back” after an illness

When a hospice referral is made, the hospice team can do a consultative visit to determine if someone is eligible to start hospice care.

![elderly couple comforting one another](https://hospicedouglascounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-8057373.jpg)

## Not Sure Where to Begin?

We can help. 

[Start The Conversation](https://hospicedouglascounty.org/start-the-conversation/ "Start The Conversation")

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