Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by Frank Davis
Hospice care in the United States typically starts when a doctor gives a patient a prognosis of six months or less. The fundamental purpose of hospice care is to provide relief from pain and symptoms when the end is near. Hospice embodies a philosophy that enables people with terminal illnesses to live their lives according to their own wishes, free from fear of dying.
Hospice care is received typically in the patient’s place of residence. Hospice care can also be given in a hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation center. The hospice team includes the patient’s family, friends and medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers, home health aides, and volunteers. Treatment is individualized to the symptoms of a patient. It may include a few or many types of treatment, including pain relief medication, rest, relaxation therapies such as massage, music therapy and art therapy.
Hospice services may continue past six months if the doctor recertifies that the patient is still terminally ill. In the United States, hospice care may be continued indefinitely as long as you need it. Medicare policy requires for you to be recertified every ninety days for two consecutive periods. After those two ninety days and indefinite amount of sixty day periods become available.
Hospice care is appropriate for patients with any life-limiting illness. Some conditions that are appropriate for hospice care include: cancer, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, liver failure, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic illness. In order to be admitted to hospice care, you must be referred by your primary care physician.
Patients should be considered for hospice care if they can no longer benefit from curative chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or other lifesaving procedures. Hospice care is not provided for patients whose illness is reversible. For example, it would not be appropriate for patients with certain infections or an acute asthma attack.
Regardless of the illness, the eligibility requirements for hospice care are as follows:
- You must have a life expectancy of six months or less as certified by a physician
- Has Medicare Part A, Medicaid, or a private insurance
- Agree not to receive any curative treatments
Due to the fact that the main purpose of hospice care is to delay or avoid unnecessary medical tests, all routine procedures, such as tests and examinations are deferred. Hospice care has become an important option for quality end-of-life care for people with advanced illnesses who do not want to feel that they are a burden to their family or caregivers.
Today, more than 1.5 million Americans receive hospice care annually. Hospice care is offered by thousands of hospices throughout the United States and Canada. It can be provided in your home, a nursing home, assisted living facility or long term care facility including hospitals and hospices.
Research shows that patients who use hospice services live longer and experience less physical and emotional pain than patients who try to manage their illnesses without hospice. It is estimated that patients who use hospice live an average of 29 days longer than terminally ill people who do not use hospice.
In United States the hospice care is provided only to those who have a life expectancy of six months or less as certified by a physician. The main goal of hospice care is to provide relief from pain and symptoms when the end is near. Hospice also embodies a philosophy that enables people with terminal illnesses to live their lives according the their own wishes, free from fear of dying.
