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.