Signs to talk about, not a verdict
Is it time for hospice? A self-check for families
This self-check helps you decide whether it is time to ask about hospice. It asks nine yes-or-no questions about changes families often notice, such as more hospital visits, weight loss and more help with daily care. The result shows which signs to raise with a doctor or a hospice nurse. It cannot tell you whether someone is eligible. Only a doctor can certify that.
Medically reviewed by Oscar Chien, MD, Medical Director, November 9, 2026
On this page (4 sections)
Answer nine questions
If this is an emergency, call 911.
Think about the past three to six months, not one bad week. Choose the answer that fits best. You can skip a question.
Your answers stay in this browser window. Nothing is saved or sent.
Where do these questions come from?
Each question is one of the general signs on our page is it time for hospice?, which our medical director reviewed. These signs apply across most serious illnesses. That page also has signs for specific illnesses, such as dementia, heart failure and cancer.
Doctors look at the overall direction over the past three to six months, not at one bad week. That is why the questions ask about changes over time.
What should I do with my answers?
Use your answers to start a conversation with the doctor or a hospice nurse. These steps come from our guide to raising hospice with the doctor.
- Step 1
Write down what has changed
List hospital stays, weight loss, falls, new symptoms and how much help the person needs now compared with three to six months ago. Bring the list to the visit or have it ready for a phone call.
- Step 2
Say what matters to the person
Tell the doctor what the person wants most, such as staying home, less pain, fewer hospital trips or more time awake with family. Goals shape the recommendation.
- Step 3
Ask for a hospice evaluation
If the doctor agrees it is worth exploring, ask for a hospice evaluation. The doctor's office can send the request, or you can contact us and we will reach out to the doctor for you. See how to start hospice.
Common questions
Can this self-check tell me if someone is eligible for hospice?
No. Only a doctor can certify that someone is eligible for hospice. Under Medicare, a doctor certifies a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its usual course, and the person chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. The self-check helps you decide whether to start that conversation.
Is anything I enter saved or sent?
No. Your answers stay in your browser window while the page is open. Nothing is saved or sent to Beta Hospice or anyone else. Reloading or closing the page clears them.
What if I answered yes to only one or two questions?
It can still be worth asking. Seeing few signs does not mean it is too early to ask, and asking does not commit you to anything. If it is too early, we will tell you so, explain what to watch for and suggest other support such as palliative care.
Who can call a hospice nurse?
Anyone can call: the person who is ill, a family member, a friend or a caregiver. You do not need a doctor's order to ask questions. A hospice nurse answers the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
About this page
- Written by
- Beta Hospice care team
- Medically reviewed by
- Oscar Chien, MD, Medical Director
- Last reviewed
- November 9, 2026
- Next review
- May 9, 2027
How we write and review this site
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care coverage (opens in a new tab)
- 42 CFR 418.20: Eligibility requirements (opens in a new tab)
- 42 CFR 418.22: Certification of terminal illness (opens in a new tab)
- National Institute on Aging: What are palliative care and hospice care? (opens in a new tab)
These sources support the general information on this page. For one person鈥檚 care and coverage, talk with the hospice team.
You do not have to decide alone.
Call (877) 258-7129 any time, or leave your number and someone from Beta's hospice team will call you. No decision is needed to call. Most families start with a question.
Only a hospice doctor, together with the person鈥檚 own doctor, can confirm hospice eligibility. A website cannot.
- A nurse answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- You can stop hospice at any time
- You have the right to choose your hospice