Is Hospice Right for Your Loved One? 5 Signs It Might Be Time
September 25, 2025
When many people hear the word hospice, they think it means giving up hope – or that it’s only an option when someone has just days to live. But that common misconception can cause families to miss out on months of compassionate, high-quality care focused on comfort, dignity and meaningful time together.
“Hospice isn’t about giving up,” says Ben Geishauser, D.O., medical director of Hackensack Meridian Health Hospice. “It’s about shifting the focus from curing to caring,and helping people live better in the time that they have.”
Still, many families wait too long to have the hospice conversation. Some patients are referred so late that they pass away within hours or days of enrollment, never getting the full benefit of hospice services. According to Dr. Geishauser, this late timing robs patients and loved ones of the support, guidance and relief they deserve.
In this article, Dr. Geishauser helps clear the air about what hospice really is – and isn’t – and offers expert guidance to help you see if it might be the right next step for someone you care about.
Hospice 101: Caring, Not Curing
Hospice is a team‑based service that shifts the goal from curing an illness to maximizing comfort and quality of life in its final stage. Care can happen at home, in a nursing facility or in an inpatient unit.
“It’s not about stopping all treatment,” Dr. Geishauser says. “It’s about using multiple tools – medications, equipment, home‑health aides, social work – to manage symptoms and help people live well for as long as possible.”
Contrary to a popular myth, hospice does not speed up death. In fact, several studies show the opposite is true. One study of patients with advanced heart failure found that those in hospice had longer median survival compared to those receiving standard care (80 days vs. 71 days). With hospice, families also gain 24/7 on-call nursing support, counseling and help navigating insurance and medical supplies – resources that are hard to assemble on their own.
What Every Caregiver Should Understand About Hospice
Many people hesitate to even say the word “hospice” because of the myths and misconceptions attached to it. But understanding what hospice truly is can bring clarity and comfort during a difficult time.
Here’s what Dr. Geisbauser wants you to know:
Misconception: Hospice means stopping all treatment
“People think we stop all medications when you come into hospice, and that’s not true,” says Dr. Geishauser.
In fact, hospice focuses on comfort and quality of life. That might include medications like antibiotics, blood pressure medications, diabetic medications or pain relievers, depending on the person’s needs.
Misconception: Hospice means the very end is near
“We want people to come to hospice with months to live – not hours,” says Dr. Geishauser.
Hospice isn’t just for the final days of life. When started earlier, it can improve symptom management, help families prepare emotionally, and even extend life in some cases.
Misconception: Hospice shortens life
According to Dr. Geishauser’s research, 79 percent of Hackensack Meridian Health hospice patients were enrolled for 18 days or less between the years 2022 to 2024. But if hospice doesn’t shorten life, then why is that length of stay so short? The answer is because people are referred to hospice much too late.
“Late referrals continue to perpetuate the fallacy that hospice shortens life, when studies show that in many cases it actually prolongs life,” says Dr. Geishauser.
5 Signs Your Loved One May Benefit From Hospice
So, how do you know if hospice is what your loved one needs at this time? Overall, doctors must determine that a patient is likely to have six months or less to live if the illness follows its usual course. Prognosis isn’t an exact science, but these red flags often signal it’s time to have the hospice talk:
1: Major decline in day‑to‑day function
If someone who once drove, cooked and bathed independently now needs help dressing or walking to the bathroom, pay attention. “Rapid loss of independence tells us the disease is advancing,” Dr. Geishauser notes.
2: Unintentional weight loss
Dropping about 10 percent of body weight in six months – even while eating – suggests the body is struggling to use nutrients.
3: Frequent hospital or emergency room visits
Repeated admissions for the same problem (such as heart failure flare‑ups, COPD exacerbations, infections) usually mean the condition is no longer controlled by standard treatment.
“We see a lot of patients after their third or fourth hospitalization in six months,” Dr. Geishauser says. “By then, they’ve already been through so much.”
4: Worsening symptoms at rest
Shortness of breath while sitting, pain that no longer responds to current doses or extreme fatigue can all point to late‑stage illness.
5: A year‑ahead question
Clinicians often ask themselves, ’would I be surprised if this patient died within the next year?’ If the answer is “no,” hospice deserves serious consideration.
Final Takeaways on Knowing When It’s Time
It’s never easy to think about end-of-life care, but waiting too long to consider hospice can mean missing out on valuable support, comfort and connection.
If your loved one is declining, has been in and out of the hospital, or no longer has the strength for once-routine activities, it may be time to open the conversation.
“Hospice isn’t a jail sentence,” assures Dr. Geishauser. “You can choose it, benefit from it and even “graduate from hospice” if things improve.”
He encourages families to talk openly with their providers. Ask questions, share concerns and most of all, don’t wait. Hospice care is about living as well as possible for as long as possible.
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Ben Geishauser, D.O.
- To make an appointment with a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about our hospice care services.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
