Hospice care can benefit patients of any age—with any serious illness— who are experiencing any of the following triggers:

The following questions may help determine whether a patient needs our help. Contact Hospice & Community Care’s Access Team at (717) 391-2416 if your patient:

• May not survive within the year
• Is seriously ill and pain management is needed
• Has more than one chronic condition
• Has been admitted to the ER/hospital several times within six months
• Is facing difficult conversations regarding end-of-life decisions

General Advanced Illness (any of these triggers):

• Decline in the ability to function
• Needs help with dressing, bathing or other daily activities
• Poor nutritional status/weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Worsening of symptoms
• Increased emergency room visits
• Patient is no longer seeking or able to tolerate curative treatment

Cancer (any of these triggers):

• Patient is in advanced stages of illness
• Disease is spreading/metastasizing
• Symptoms are progressing despite treatment
• Patient declines or is not a candidate for aggressive treatment
• Is experiencing pain or other symptoms
• Unintentional weight loss

Heart Disease (any of these triggers):

• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing when resting
• Chest pains when resting
• Significant/recurrent symptoms when resting
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Recurrent hospitalizations/worsening of symptoms
• Optimally treated with heart medications
• Self care becomes difficult because of cardiac symptoms
• Has two or more existing medical conditions (renal insufficiency, pulmonary edema, dementia, etc.)

Stroke (any of these triggers):

• Difficulty swallowing/aspiration
• Recurrent infections
• Pneumonia
• Pressure sores

End Stage Kidney Disease (any of these triggers):

• Declines dialysis
• Poor response to dialysis
• Pain or other symptoms
• Even if awaiting transplant

End Stage Liver Disease (any of these triggers):

• Pain or other symptoms
• Even if awaiting transplant

Lung Disease (any of these triggers):

• Dependent on oxygen
• Difficulty swallowing/aspiration
• Recurrent infections
• Recurrent hospitalizations/severe worsening of symptoms
• Decreasing functional abilities because of pulmonary symptoms
• Unintentional weight loss

Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias (any of these triggers):

• Loss of or severely limited ability to walk
• Loss of or severely limited speech
• Inability to perform activities of daily living
• Incontinent of urine and stool
• Difficulty maintaining posture
• Significantly eating less/weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pressure sores
• Recurrent infections

To make a referral, call Hospice & Community Care’s Access Team at (717) 391-2416.