When is too late to call hospice?

I'm glad her suffering is done. I'm sure the hospital made sure she was comfortable.
((hugs)) to your friend.

She probably did receive hospice in the hospital. Now her pain has ended. May she rest in peace.

Just got the text message (I’m at work ~ cell phone signal iffy) - passed away @ 8:00pm this evening.

Maybe she is receiving hospice services from the hospital. Your friend needs to ask. Hospice will also provide support services for the family. Maybe family just has not told your friend?

My mother was " actively dying" when we engaged hospice. Glad we did. They can do better pain relief if it is needed than palliative care.

That’s what I told her ~ make the call... even if only for a few days, it can be of comfort.  If anything - least she’d know that everything possible that could be done has been done.

Grandmom is currently in the hospital (cardiac floor I think) ~ but I’m pretty sure hospice can still come out (right?).

(...she did say that her grandmom is kept comfortable with morphine and isn’t in any distress. She does know what’s going on and is aware that she’s very sick.)

No, it's not a lost cause.
We've had patients on our service for HOURS instead of days before they passed away. There is no "cut-off" or "too late" time. Call now and get it set up. At least your friend's grandma will have a hospital bed, nurses to check on her, medications for pain and anxiety (if pt. has any), oxygen, commode, diapers and Chux (if needed), etc. Research to find one with good ratings and no infractions.

Please have her read over the entire agreement before signing it. You can always back out if there is something you can't live with. If she wants gram to go to ER for treatment, it would automatically cancel hospice. It sounds like something that might be a blessing for grandma.
God bless

Call hospice and let them make the decision. Even if it is only for a few days, hospice can be comforting for both the patient and their loved ones.