.png&w=256&q=75){kind=small}
How Long Does Home Hospice Care Last?
Date Updated: December 16, 2024
Written by:
Lauren Ferguson has over five years of experience as a freelance writer, specializing in senior care topics such as assisted living and memory care. She holds a degree in Liberal Studies and English from the University of Illinois Springfield. Having navigated the process of placing her mother in a long-term care community, Lauren offers a unique insider's perspective to families facing similar situations.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
Home hospice care lasts anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the patient's condition. Families often choose hospice services when a loved one faces a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months or less and seeks comfort care rather than curative treatments.
Eligibility for Home Hospice Care
Hospice care focuses on providing comfort-oriented services to people with a terminal diagnosis. It emphasizes pain management, emotional support and quality of life once a medical professional has ruled out curative options. When provided at home, it allows individuals to continue living in a familiar environment, remain close to loved ones and save on the room and board costs of specialized residential facilities. Services that home hospice care typically offers include 24/7 on-call support, medication management, assistance with daily activities and grief counseling for family members.
To qualify for hospice coverage through Medicare, patients must meet the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in Medicare Part A
- Be terminally ill with a life expectancy of 6 months or less, as certified by a physician
- Sign a statement opting for palliative care instead of curative treatments
- Choose a Medicare-approved hospice agency
How Hospice Duration Varies by Patient
According to 2022 figures from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, decedents used hospice services through Medicare for an average of 95.3 days. However, the exact duration of hospice care depends on each patient's needs and the progression of their illness. For example, individuals with rapidly progressing diseases such as cancer usually experience shorter hospice stays, 52 days on average, compared to those with neurological conditions.
If a patient lives beyond the expected prognosis, they can still receive hospice services. Medicare hospice benefits initially cover care in two 90-day periods. If the hospice medical director or the patient's doctor considers that continued hospice care remains medically necessary, the patient may qualify for an unlimited number of subsequent 60-day periods. A physician must recertify the individual's terminal illness and eligibility under Medicare at the beginning of each benefit period.