Family Support

Whether you’re considering hospice for yourself or a loved one, making the decision comes with many questions. How is eligibility determined? What does hospice actually mean? Where do I begin?

St. Croix Hospice is here to help. When you choose St. Croix Hospice, you’ll receive the education, resources and support you need, right from the start.

• Anyone with a life expectancy of six months or less is eligible and re-enrollment after six months is possible
• The benefits of hospice—including physical, emotional and spiritual support—are greatest when services are begun early
• Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurers
• Patients can receive hospice services wherever they call home, including a private residence, assisted living facility or nursing home

If you have a loved one who is showing noticeable health declines or significant ongoing pain, and curative treatment is no longer an option, it might be time to talk about hospice. You may have noticed one or more of the following within the past year:

• Increased hospitalizations or ER visits
• Progressive weight loss
• Change in comprehension (confusion, disorientation)
• More needed assistance with activities of daily living, e.g. personal care
• Increased incontinence, edema (swelling), weakness and/or shortness of breath
• Falls causing injury
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Decrease in appetite
• Taking nine or more daily medications
• Increased number of infections or wounds