No. Preferred but not required.

Yes. Medicare Part A covers the hospice benefit.

If the patient's/resident's condition overall has declined and there seems to be no improvement, then hospice may be a consideration.

The patient's/resident's primary physician may continue to follow their patient during the hospice course. If the primary care physician chooses not to follow, then the hospice medical director will be in charge of the hospice plan of care, along with the rest of the hospice team.

Hospice is not driven by religion. However, spiritual concerns/wishes are often associated with death and grief. Pastoral services are offered, and patient chooses if desired.

No. Patients can and often do receive some kind of treatment. E.g., if the client acquires a secondary infection, it will be treated, as this is a comfort measure.

A patient can be on hospice indefinitely as long as the prognosis for his/her condition is less than six months.

Yes. If improvement in the condition occurs and the disease seems in remission, patient can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy.

No. Most hospice services are delivered in a personal residence; however some patients are cared for in nursing homes or hospice centers.

At any time during a life-limiting illness, it's appropriate to discuss all of a patient's care options, including hospice.