How Long Does the Average Hospice Patient Live?

Many people who are unfamiliar with hospice care in Phoenix wonder how long the average hospice patient lives. The life expectancy of a hospice patient is dependent on many factors. That being said, doctors do still make predictions about how long a patient is expected to live. At Suncrest Home Health and Hospice of Phoenix, we provide loving, compassionate care to our patients every day that they are in our care.

How Long Do Patients Stay in Hospice?

In order to enter hospice care, a patient must have a referral from a doctor. Patients are only accepted into hospice if they are expected to live less than six months. Hospice is intended to be short-term, end-of-life care. Medicare pays for hospice care, and it is this government body that has created the six-month cutoff. For those who are very ill but expected to live longer than six months, we may recommend home care or a long-term care facility in Phoenix.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 90% of patients die within the six-month timeframe after entering hospice. If a patient has been in hospice for six months but a doctor believes they are unlikely to live another six months, they may renew their stay in hospice.

However, on rare occasions, patients go into remission or improve enough to leave hospice and return home or to an assisted living facility.

What Factors Affect How Long Hospice Patients Live?

According to NIH, there are five main factors that affect how long a hospice patient will live.

1. Age: Patients younger than 65 die within the six-month timeframe less often.
2. Gender: Men are more likely to die than women within six months.
3. PPS score: The Palliative Performance Scale evaluates such criteria as whether patients are ambulatory and able to care for themselves. A higher score means better chance eligibility for hospice and greater likelihood of dying sooner.
4. Location: Patients admitted to hospice from a hospital are most likely to die within six months. Those admitted from home are next most likely to die within six months and those admitted from nursing homes are least likely.
5. Diagnosis: Patients diagnosed with cancer are more likely to die within six months than those diagnosed with other diseases or conditions.

How Long Does the Average Hospice Patient Live?

Notwithstanding these factors, the majority of hospice patients die within a week of admission. The NIH says this is because these patients tend to enter hospice when they are very ill and already near death.

The NIH says most hospice programs continually see a minority of patients who outlive the six-month timeframe. They say that often there is no discernible reason for this, and hospice workers are frequently unable to predict it or offer reasons as to why it is.

Suncrest: Phoenix’s Best Choice for Hospice

At Suncrest Home Health and Hospice, we see hundreds of patients in Phoenix every year, and we work hard to provide them the end-of-life care that is in accordance with their wishes. If your loved one has received a terminal diagnosis and expressed a desire to enter hospice, call us today. We will set up a meeting with a social worker and hospice nurse to talk about next steps for your family.