Advance Care Planning
Does hospice require a DNR order?
Learn whether hospice requires a DNR order, how DNR decisions differ from hospice eligibility, and questions families can discuss with the care team today.
Hospice eligibility and a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order are related conversations, but they are not the same decision. Families should ask the hospice team and the patient’s clinician how their preferences are recorded and honored in the patient’s setting.
What a DNR order means
A DNR order addresses one specific situation: whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be attempted if a person’s heart or breathing stops. It does not automatically answer every question about treatment, comfort medications, hospital care, antibiotics, or other medical choices.
Texas uses advance-directive documents and medical orders that can help a patient communicate care wishes. The right form and process can depend on the care setting and the patient’s clinician. This article is general education, not legal or medical advice.
How the DNR conversation relates to hospice
Hospice is comfort-focused care for a person with a terminal illness who meets clinical eligibility requirements and elects hospice care. Because hospice centers comfort and the patient’s stated goals, the team will usually discuss code status and advance-care planning with the patient or authorized decision-maker.
That discussion is important, but it should never be rushed or reduced to a form. The patient’s goals, values, spiritual beliefs, diagnosis, and understanding of likely outcomes all matter. The hospice team can explain what choices mean in practical terms and encourage the family to ask the attending physician questions that need medical guidance.
A DNR is not “do not treat”
This is one of the most important distinctions for families. A DNR addresses CPR after cardiac or respiratory arrest. Comfort care and symptom treatment can still be provided. The patient may still receive nursing care, pain and symptom management, emotional support, spiritual support, and other services included in the hospice plan.
Ask the team to explain the patient’s full plan rather than assuming a DNR label describes everything. If the patient’s wishes change, tell the clinician and hospice team promptly so the documentation can be reviewed.
Questions families can ask
- Does the patient have a current advance directive or medical power of attorney document?
- Who is authorized to make decisions if the patient cannot speak for themselves?
- What does a DNR order mean in this home, facility, or hospital setting?
- Which treatments are part of the comfort-focused hospice plan, and which may require a separate conversation?
- How will the hospice team document and communicate the patient’s wishes to family and other care providers?
How Caritas Hospice can help
Caritas Hospice can help Dallas-Fort Worth families prepare for an advance-care-planning conversation and understand how it connects to the hospice plan. For questions about the patient’s medical condition, prognosis, or legal documents, the team can help identify the right clinician or resource to involve.
About this guide
Written by Caritas Hospice Editorial Team
Published August 6, 2026 · Last updated August 6, 2026
This article is for general educational information and does not replace medical advice or an individual hospice eligibility assessment.