How Long Do People Live in Hospice? What To Expect & How To Plan

Transitioning a loved one to hospice care can be a tough decision. It’s normal to have questions, especially about how long someone might live in hospice and what to expect during that time. In this article, we’ll review:

• What hospice care is
• How long people live in hospice care
• What to expect in hospice care
• How to plan for hospice care

Interested in learning more about hospice care, end-of-life care, and caregiving? Check if you have free access to Trualta’s learning library.

What Is Hospice Care? 

Hospice care is focused on improving the lives of patients facing terminal illness. Hospice care is recommended for people with a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice doesn’t offer curative treatments but instead focuses on providing comfort and support to patients and their families as they transition toward end-of-life care. 

The goal of hospice is to improve your loved ones’ quality of life. Health care focuses on pain reduction and includes a holistic approach that considers the patient’s physical, mental, psychosocial, and spiritual needs.

Hospice care is covered under Medicare for those who meet eligibility criteria. Many private insurance plans also cover it, making it an affordable option for families. Check with your loved one’s insurance provider to see if you’re eligible for coverage. 

How Long Do People Live In Hospice?

It’s normal to wonder how long someone will live once they enter hospice care. Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. 

For example, research has shown that just over a third of individuals in hospice care pass away within a week, and around half of hospice patients pass within three weeks. There is, however, a minority (12-15%) of patients who live longer than six months. In another report from 2022, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) reported that the average stay for Medicare patients in hospice was 95 days. 

How long someone lives in hospice may depend on a variety of factors, including:

• Age: People under 65 tend to live longer in hospice care.
• Underlying condition: People with advanced-stage illnesses, like advanced cancer, tend to spend a shorter time in hospice as compared to those with chronic illnesses, like heart disease or Alzheimer’s.
• Timing: People who enroll earlier can experience the benefits of hospice care for longer.

What To Expect In Hospice Care? 

Being a caregiver or a family member to someone in hospice care can be emotionally challenging. You should expect changes in your loved one as they approach the end of life. Some of these changes might include:

• Changes in skin color
• Sleeping more than usual
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Changes in breathing
• Incontinence (loss of control over bodily functions)
• Less interest in eating or drinking

These changes are normal as they approach the end of life. It’s important to talk with the hospice team about your loved one’s needs to ensure they stay as comfortable and supported as possible.

How To Plan For Hospice Care

Planning for hospice care can be challenging, but it’s an important step that ensures your loved one gets the care and support they need. Here are some key things to consider:

Pick A Location 

You and your loved one should expect to decide where to have hospice services delivered. Hospice services are often given in the home but can also be given in a nursing home, a hospital, or any other designated hospice facility. 

Talk to your loved ones and family about the best location in advance. This way, you won’t be faced with making an unprepared, last-minute decision.

Regardless of where you choose, know that you will have a supportive staff that will help you and your loved ones as needed.

Start Early 

It’s important to discuss hospice care early and understand your loved one’s wishes. Engaging in advance care planning will help ensure they can receive the full benefits of the service.

Enrolling in hospice care early can help improve comfort and quality of life at the end.

Know Your Options 

Choosing hospice care doesn’t mean it’s permanent. Hospice patients can change their minds at any time. If your loved one’s condition improves and they no longer meet the requirement (six months or less to live), they can be taken off hospice care through hospice discharge and return to curative treatments. 

Conclusion

Regardless of where you and your loved one choose to receive hospice, you’re not alone. You’ll have support from an interdisciplinary team of hospice nurses, physicians, and other therapists. If choosing to offer hospice services at home, hospice staff, aides, or nurses may visit daily, and doctors may visit occasionally. The focus of hospice care includes:

• Managing physical pain and other symptoms
• Providing necessary medical equipment 
• Helping with emotional, social, and spiritual needs
• Delivering specialized services and therapies to improve comfort
• Offering grief support and counseling 
• Teaching family caregivers how to provide home care 

Overall, hospice care works to improve the quality of life of its patients. Hospice care is not only for a person’s final days but can help patients live comfortably for weeks or months. While the majority of people spend less than one month in hospice care, some people live for longer than six months. By understanding what to expect, you can create a thoughtful and meaningful plan that works for you and your family.

References

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Hospice care. Medicare.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care
2. Teno, J. M., Gruneir, A., Schwartz, L., Nanda, A., & Bradley, E. H. (2013). Can hospices predict which patients will die within six months? Journal of Palliative Medicine, 16(5), 514-518. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4118712/ 
3. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. (2024). Facts and figures: Hospice care in America [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.nhpco.org/wp-content/uploads/NHPCO-Facts-Figures-2024.pdf 
4. Hospice Basics. (n.d.). What is hospice respite care? Hospice Basics. Retrieved December 12, 2024, from https://www.hospicebasics.org/what-is-hospice-respite-care/
5. Harvard Health Publishing. (2023, October). Hospice care: Overview of a compassionate approach to end-of-life care. Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/hospice-care-overview-of-a-compassionate-approach-to-end-of-life-care
6. Connor SR, Pyenson B, Fitch K, Spence C, Iwasaki K. Comparing hospice and nonhospice patient survival among patients who die within a three-year window. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007 Mar;33(3):238-46.