The Hospice Paperwork Checklist Nobody Hands You (But Should) ✦

Hospice teams need a lot of information quickly, and families are often meeting them for the first time during an already exhausting week. Having your documents organized in advance turns that first meeting into a conversation instead of a scramble.

Advance directive and health care proxy, insurance and Medicare information, a list of current medications and dosages, physician contact information, and a copy of any existing medical-orders form. Having these in one folder, physical or digital, saves real time and stress.

Every current medication with dosage and frequency, known allergies and reactions, and any medications recently stopped. Hospice teams use this to build a safe, accurate care plan from day one.

Your hospice team, your primary doctor, and any family members who might need to speak for you if you can't. Redundancy is a good thing here, not overkill.

You don't have to wait for a hospice referral to get organized. Building this packet ahead of time means one less overwhelming task during a week that will already have plenty.