Even after the decision for Hospice home care has been made and despite the reasonableness of caring for symptoms at home, patients and their families may request to go to the hospital.

Emergency hospitalizations usually come at the end of a long day or night during which everyone has gone beyond their limits from the stress of seemingly uncontrollable pain, intractable seizures, bleeding, vomiting, or breathing difficulty. If you experience such a period — day or night — call the hospice nurse and talk about what is happening so they can offer suggestions. Together with your doctor, the hospice nurse can provide symptom management at home.  Before calling an ambulance, call Hospice.

If symptoms cannot be controlled at home, the doctor may suggest brief in-hospital treatment for symptom control, and then home care can continue.

While you are in the hospital, your Hospice team will visit and offer necessary support. We will continue to care for you when you return home.