In the meantime, to help you in your decisions about hospice services, here are some starting pointers on:

• General
• In-patient Hospice (Provided by Assisi Hospice, Bright Vision Hospital, Dover Park Hospice and St. Joseph’s Home and Hospice)
• Day Hospice (Provided by Assisi Hospice and HCA Hospice Care)
• Home Hospice (Provided by Agape Methodist Hospice, Assisi Hospice, HCA Hospice Care, Metta Hospice Care and Singapore Cancer Society)

General

• Decide on the type of service (home hospice / day hospice / in-patient hospice) you are looking for.
• Find out if your chosen hospice service offers the services (types of therapies, counselling, etc) that
  you want.
• Find out if your chosen hospice service offers any unique services which you may prefer.
• Check whether you can receive hospice and palliative care while receiving curative treatment
  in the hospital.
• Ask about your chosen hospice service’s charges.
• Assess if you are in a condition where hospice and palliative care can benefit you and your caregiver.
• Ask about the training volunteers receive before they start caring for patients.
• Ask about the benefits of hospice services to your family.
  

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In-patient Hospice

• Check the patient-caregiver ratio in your chosen in-patient hospice.
• Find out about the live-in facilities available at your chosen in-patient hospice.
• Find out about the type of equipment available to provide the necessary care at your chosen in-patient hospice.
• Ask if meals at your chosen in-patient hospice can be customized according to your nutritional requirements.
• Find out about the daily routine for hospice residents, visiting hours and regulations at your
  chosen in-patient hospice.
• Ask if your chosen in-patient hospice allows practitioners of alternative therapies to visit and treat patients.
• If you have pets, ask if your chosen in-patient hospice allows your family to bring your pet along on visits.

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Day Hospice

• Check the patient-caregiver ratio in your chosen day hospice.
• Find out about the various day hospice activities you can participate in, and how often you can attend
  the day hospice sessions.
• Check whether your chosen day hospice provides types of food that are suitable for your
  dietary requirements.
• Ask if transport between your home and your chosen day hospice is available or can be arranged.
• Ask if you are eligible for subsidized fees at your chosen day hospice.
• Ask if your medication can be administered to you at the day hospice.
  

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Home Hospice

• Ask about the medical services that the home hospice caregivers can provide you in your home.
• Find out how often the home hospice nurses and doctors will visit you at home.
• Ask if home hospice volunteers can act as temporary caregivers whenever your primary caregiver needs to run some errands; or be “attached” to your primary caregiver permanently to help out on a daily basis.
• Check if the home hospice has a 24-hour emergency service, and the average response time.
• Ask if your primary caregiver needs to pay to attend caregiver workshops.
• If you require medical equipment, ask if they can be loaned for free, the rental price or the purchase price.

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You may also wish to use the checklists on medical, financial, hospice and personal matters.