Commonly Asked Questions

Who is eligible for Hospice?

Anyone with a life-limiting illness, with a life expectancy of six months or less, including those patients with end-stage heart disease, COPD, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and cancer, to name a few. 

When is the right time to choose hospice care?

A patient’s physician typically identifies when it is appropriate for a patient to consider Hospice Care. People often enter hospice care when they’re diagnosed with a life-limiting condition and curative treatments are either no longer effective or create side effects that prolong discomfort or pain. 

Where is Hospice Care provided?

Hospice is based on personalized care and not a specific location, most patients can choose to receive hospice care in their own home. They can also choose to receive hospice wherever they call home such as an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. If you require specialized medical assistance, you can opt to receive care in a hospital or a hospice care center like the SunCare Center. 

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative Care is a medical specialty that focuses on aggressive pain control and symptom management for people with serious or life-limiting illnesses. The purpose of palliative care is to improve quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating symptoms within a supportive patient and family-centered care program. 

Who can make a hospice referral?

Anyone can make a hospice referral. The Patient’s information will be taken, and the patient’s doctor will be contacted to discuss whether an assessment of the patient for hospice is appropriate. Simply call 912.800.9288 to make a referral now.