The following can be possible signs that hospice care may be needed for you or your loved one: Majority of day is spent in bed or in a chair with very limited activity Weight loss/diculty swallowing Several falls over a 6-month period  Multiple trips to the ER within a brief period of time Shortness of breath while resting or oxygen dependent Unrelieved pain To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must have an illness that is life-limiting, such as heart disease, cancer, end-stage Alzheimer’s, stroke or other condition with a life expectancy of 6-months or less.