Question 1

What are the general criteria for hospice admission?

Accepted Answer

General criteria include terminal diagnosis (less than 6 months life expectancy), decline in nutritional status, multiple hospitalizations, decline in functional and mental status, falls, frequent infections/illnesses, recent significant stroke or coma events, and uncontrolled pain or symptoms.

Question 2

How many criteria does a patient need to meet to be considered for hospice care?

Accepted Answer

If a patient meets 4 or more criteria, a consultation with the hospice care provider is recommended.

Question 3

What specific conditions might qualify someone for hospice care?

Accepted Answer

Conditions that may qualify include advanced Alzheimer's disease, cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, liver disease, neurological diseases, pulmonary diseases, renal disease, and severe stroke or coma states.

Question 4

What are the eligibility criteria for cancer patients?

Accepted Answer

Cancer patients may be eligible if they have a clinical finding of widespread, aggressive, progressive disease, with metastasis stage 4 or 5, and are refusing or declining further life-prolonging treatments.

Question 5

How is eligibility determined for heart disease patients?

Accepted Answer

Heart disease patients may qualify if they have CHF with NYHA Class III or IV, significant fatigue at rest, are optimally treated with diuretics and vasodilators, have shortness of breath or angina at rest, and are treatment resistant.

Question 6

What criteria are considered for neurological diseases?

Accepted Answer

Criteria include dyspnea at rest, vital capacity of 30%, need for oxygen at rest, inability to walk or dress, difficulty swallowing or food refusal, incontinence, and complications such as pneumonia, septicemia, or recurrent fever.

Question 7

How is eligibility assessed for patients with renal disease?

Accepted Answer

Renal disease patients may be eligible if they are not seeking dialysis or kidney transplant, have uremia with confusion or nausea, very low urine output, regular infections, abnormal GFR levels, high serum creatinine, and dehydration.

Question 8

What should I do if I think my loved one meets the criteria for hospice care?

Accepted Answer

If you believe your loved one meets 4 or more of the listed criteria, you should request a consultation with the hospice care provider. They are available 24/7 to discuss eligibility and next steps.

Question 9

What are the specific criteria for Alzheimer's disease patients?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's patients may qualify if they have a Stage 7 FAST scale rating and at least one of the following in the past 12 months: aspiration pneumonia, pyelonephritis, septicemia, multiple pressure ulcers, recurrent fever, recurrent falls, or inability to maintain fluid caloric intake.

Question 10

How is eligibility determined for HIV/AIDS patients?

Accepted Answer

HIV/AIDS patients may be eligible if they have a CD4+ count <25 cells/mcL OR viral load >100,000/ml AND one of the following: CNS lymphoma, refractory wasting, mycobacterium avium complex, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, systemic lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, renal failure, or refractory toxoplasmosis. Additionally, their Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) should be <50%.

Question 11

What criteria are considered for liver disease patients?

Accepted Answer

Liver disease patients may qualify if they need ongoing assessments/tests, show muscle wasting, have ongoing alcoholism, functional decline in ADLs or weight loss, non-responsiveness symptoms, and clinical progression of liver disease and related comorbidities.

Question 12

What are the eligibility criteria for pulmonary disease patients?

Accepted Answer

Pulmonary disease patients may be eligible if they have disabling dyspnea at rest, limited functional capacity, dependence on O2 therapy, cyanosis, steroid dependence, and noted progression of pulmonary disease (recent ED visits/hospitalizations for respiratory infection or failure).

Question 13

How is eligibility assessed for stroke or coma patients?

Accepted Answer

Stroke/coma patients may qualify if they have a Palliative Performance Scale ≤40% AND poor nutritional status with inability to maintain sufficient fluid intake, significant comorbidities, rapid decline, abnormal brainstem response, absent verbal/withdrawal response to pain, and complications such as ulcers or serum albumin <2.5 g/ml.

Question 14

How often should eligibility be reassessed?

Accepted Answer

Hospice eligibility is typically reassessed regularly, often every 60-90 days or when there's a significant change in the patient's condition.

Question 15

Who can I contact for a hospice care consultation?

Accepted Answer

You can contact Maluhia Hospice Care, available 24/7 at 956-620-2273 for a consultation if a patient meets 4 or more of the listed criteria.

Hospice eligibility and admission, answered.

General eligibility

By condition

Next steps