Your loved one hasn't eaten in days. They're barely drinking. They sleep most of the time and can't tell you what they need. In the midst of managing pain medications, repositioning schedules, and all the other demands of hospice care, mouth care probably seems like a minor concern. But the reality is that dry mouth, cracked lips, and poor oral hygiene cause significant discomfort that hospice patients often cannot communicate. Proper mouth care represents one of the most important comfort measures you can provide during end-of-life care.

The hospice nurse gives you the look that means time is very short. Your loved one's breathing has changed, their hands and feet are cold, and they seem to be pulling inward in ways that signal the final days or hours have arrived. You're suddenly facing the question you've been dreading: should you stay with them constantly until they die? Can you handle sitting vigil through long nights? What if they die alone while you're sleeping?

When your loved one entered hospice care, their doctor certified that their life expectancy was six months or less if their disease followed its typical course. But now those six months have passed, or are about to pass, and your loved one is still here. While this might seem like good news, it often creates confusion about what happens next and whether your loved one still qualifies for hospice services.