Huntington’s Disease

Call or email the Hospice Team for the most accurate assessment of the patient’s eligibility.

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Eligibility Criteria

1. Stage VII or beyond according to the Functional Assessment Staging Scale
   1. Inability to ambulate without assistance
   2. Inability to dress without assistance
   3. Urinary and fecal incontinence, intermittent or constant
   4. No consistent meaningful verbal communication

AND

2. Has had at least 1 or the following conditions within the past 12 months:
   1. Aspiration pneumonia
   2. Pyelonephritis or other upper urinary tract infection
   3. Septicemia
   4. Decubitis Ulcers, Multiple, Stage 3-4
   5. Toxoplasmosis unresponsive to therapy
   6. Fever, recurrent after antibiotics

Inability to maintain sufficient fluid and caloric intake with one or more of the following during the preceding 12 months:

1. 10% weight loss during the previous 6 months

OR

2. Serum albumin <2.5gm/dl

OR

3. Significant dysphagia with associated aspiration measured objectively (e.g. swallowing test or a history of choking or gagging with feeding)

In absence of one or more of these findings, rapid decline or comorbidities may also support eligibility for hospice care.