When curative treatment is no longer an option, hospice care can be a beneficial option for patients and their families. Hospice care includes a full range of services, including medical, pharmaceutical, social and spiritual support. As part of the admission process, a Certificate of Terminal Illness will be needed. Signed by a physician, this certificate states that a patient’s life expectancy is six months or less (if the terminal illness runs its normal course).

Recognizing that determination of life expectancy can be difficult, a patient may be hospice appropriate if they have the following:

• Physical decline 
• Unexpected weight loss 
• Comorbidities 
• Desires comfort care 
• Considerable assistance required with most activities of daily living 
• Frequent hospital visits  

The common disease criterion below provides general guidelines to help healthcare professionals determine if hospice is an option.