Your Step by Step Guide to Making a Hospice Referral
Updated April 2025
In this article:
We often hear this statement echoed by many of our patients and their loved ones:
We wish we had contacted hospice sooner.
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (formerly Lower Cape Fear Hospice) is about much more than advanced care planning and pain relief. It’s about celebrating everyday moments and allowing the chance for you or your loved ones to spend more time together enjoying the things you traditionally do as a family.
We believe in honoring not only your wishes, but in honoring who you are. Dignity, compassion and respect are hallmarks of our outstanding care. We know you have a choice when selecting a hospice, and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is always expanding its support to meet the needs of a continually changing community.
Our quality is reflected in the fact that we meet or exceed the national average on national caregivers’ surveys.
Questions? We encourage you to contact us for more information.
We understand that at this point in life requires careful planning, and we encourage you and your family to have this conversation before a crisis occurs.
In this article, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we receive, including: How do I start the process of having a conversation about hospice? How do I get a referral?
How Can I Tell if Hospice Care is Appropriate?
The first step is to determine if hospice care is appropriate at this stage in the illness. In order to qualify for hospice care, you or your loved one must be facing a life-limiting illness with a life expectancy of six months or less.
While cancer is typically the disease most people think of when they hear “hospice,” we actually serve patients of many ages with a wide variety of diagnosis which can include:
- End-stage heart disease
- ALS
- End-stage kidney disease
- Neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s
- Strokes
- End-stage lung disease
Don’t meet the criteria for hospice care? Perhaps palliative care would be the most appropriate choice. Palliative care can begin at any age and at any stage of a serious illness.
Many local health care organizations trust Lower Cape Fear LifeCare to provide palliative care to their patients. These groups include:
- New Hanover Regional Medical Center
- Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center
- Columbus Regional Healthcare System
If you’re not sure what type of care is appropriate, you can complete our online questionnaire.
How to Make a Referral to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
Anyone can make a referral to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare. This includes:
- A loved one
- A family member
- A physician
- A friend
- A neighbor
- A community member
- The patient themselves
The referral process itself is very simple. All it takes is a phone call to 1-800-733-1476. You may also complete the referral form on our website.
Education is an Important Tool
The referral process for Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is simple, but we still believe it’s important to understand all the elements that are involved in deciding upon a hospice program and health care plans for you and your loved one.
Therefore, we’ve supplied some additional information that you will find useful as you plan ahead for this important phase of life.
Gathering Information
In order to make a hospice referral, you should first be familiar with the different hospices in your area. In order to make accurate comparisons, you should examine:
- How long has the hospice served the area?
- How many families has it served?
- What are the hospice’s financial policies?
- Will the hospice serve my loved one (or myself) at my current location?
- Is there a full-time physician on staff?
- What qualifications/certifications do staff members have?
- How does the hospice compare to others on important factors?
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Has a Long Tradition of Serving the Community
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is proud to say that we exceed expectations and have established ourselves as a beacon of trust for the community.
Not only are we the area’s longest-operating hospice, but we also serve more than 6,000 families each year.
Because we are a non-profit, no patient is ever refused care based upon their ability to pay.
We also serve our patients where they are. This may mean in their homes, in the hospital or at assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
We’re the only area hospice that has a full-time physician on staff, and many of our clinical staff members have completed extensive additional training to earn specialized hospice and palliative care certification.
We’re also proud to report that Lower Cape Fear LifeCare has scored higher than national averages on the National Caregivers’ Survey Scores.
Speaking With Your Physician
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare does not require that your physician make the referral for care – anyone can refer someone to receive hospice care.
However, we do believe that it is important to speak with your physician about the wishes you or your loved ones have. In fact, some physicians may actually be waiting for you to start the conversation.
We realize it can be difficult to know what to discuss or what questions to ask, so we have provided a guide for you. You can also find valuable resources through Begin the Conversation.
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is Here to Answer Your Questions
If you’re still not sure about what type of care is appropriate and how to address your concerns, please call us.
For decades, we have partnered with our community to provide care that enables families to enjoy their time together and improve the quality of life for so many patients.
Don’t delay. We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can guide you through the process before a crisis occurs.
Anyone Can Refer Someone to Hospice
While a doctor’s order is needed to receive hospice care, anyone can make the initial referral for care.
Anyone can refer someone to hospice services: a friend, your doctor, a pastor, a loved one. It’s not necessary to have a doctor’s referral to go to hospice – which means the patient can even refer themselves.
Therefore, you and your family get the assistance you need. When you need it.
What Are the Requirements for Hospice Referral?
Patients who are hospice eligible or appropriate are those who:
- Have a life-limiting or terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less
- Have experienced recent functional decline
- Are no longer pursuing curative treatment
- Have decided they want to be comfortable with the time they have remaining
Once the patient access department gets the referral, you will receive a phone call from a Patient Access Specialist or a nurse who will go over the criteria for hospice eligibility, how the patient is doing, their decline, and how our services can help you.
The Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice Team Is Ready to Assist
With hospice, you will have an interdisciplinary team that consists of a doctor, a registered nurse, a hospice aide, a volunteer, a social worker, and a chaplain.
Hospice care can be provided in any place the patient calls home. This can be a residence, an assisted living facility, nursing homes, or even one of our hospice care centers.
Did You Know? Most People Don’t Receive The Full Extent of Hospice Benefits
Less than 10 percent of patients receive the full benefit of hospice. Hospice is designed to care for patients for months to give them added support and education. It’s not meant for the final days only. In fact, many people have said they wished they had contacted hospice sooner.
Do You Need a Hospice Referral? Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Will Guide You Through the Process
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is always here to assist people with their needs.
There are many ways to contact us. You can pick up the phone and call our patient access team. We have information on this website: you can refer a loved one, or contact us to make a referral by completing the forms for additional information.
Key Takeaways:
- Determining whether or not hospice care is appropriate is crucial so you or your loved one will get the services needed.
- To qualify for hospice care, you must have a life-limiting illness and have a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease follows its natural progression.
- By comparison, palliative care can begin at any age or any stage of the illness.
- It can be difficult to start the conversation about hospice care, but we have extensive resources available to help you.
- Getting a referral to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is simple. Anyone can make a referral including:
- Physicians
- Friends
- Family members
- Neighbors
- Members of the Community
- Even the patient themselves can refer themselves for hospice care!
- While a doctor’s order is needed to receive hospice care, anyone can make the initial referral for care.
- Educating yourself is vital to ensure you find the right hospice for you. Gather information and speak with your physician.
- Many people wish they had contacted hospice sooner, so we encourage you to speak with us for more information and start the process.
Since 1980, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (formerly Lower Cape Fear Hospice) has served patients and their families throughout southeastern North Carolina, serving patients where they live – in their homes, hospitals, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. For more information on how to start the conversation about hospice, please call 1-800-733-1476.
