Beginning hospice timely is proven to benefit both the patient and their family. Statistics have shown that patients with hospice care have a better quality of life once diagnosed with a life limiting disease. Determining the right time to initiate hospice care may not be straightforward. However, eligibility for hospice care includes the following:
- Patient is diagnosed with a life-limiting disease with a prognosis of 6 months or less, should the disease follow its natural course. Note that the 6 months time period is primarily a guideline for physicians. Hospices will provide care after six months if the patient continues to meet hospice eligibility criteria.
- Patient has an illness in which curative measures are no longer effective, appropriate, or desired. The patient is opting for comfort care rather than curative care.
- Two physicians have