When is Hospice Necessary?

Hospice care is an option when a patient is diagnosed with an illness causing a limited life expectancy of six months or less as determined by a physician. This includes patients with both cancer and non-cancer illnesses. Hospice care is appropriate at the time a patient's illness no longer responds to aggressive, cure-oriented treatment, and the focus is shifted to providing comfort to the patient through the end of life. Hospice care is centered on treating symptoms of the illness in order to ensure the patient remains as comfortable as possible.

The families of terminally ill patients often choose to wait until the last days of life to request care, but hospice is most effective when it is instituted earlier on. By requesting hospice care sooner, patients and their families can receive the greatest benefits through the emotional and physical support that hospice professionals provide.