How do doctors know when it’s time for hospice?

Hospice care is a type of care that focuses on providing relief from symptoms and pain while the patient's life expectancy is six months or less if the illness follows its usual path.

There are several different levels of hospice care, which can be tailored to the individual needs of the patient. In some cases, patients may only need short-term assistance until their death. Other patients may require continuity of care throughout their entire life, which may include visits from nurses and social workers as well as regular doctor check-ups. 

Whatever level of hospice care is chosen for a given patient, it is important to understand that this isn't a cure – it's just a way to make the patient's final days more comfortable. And, in most cases, hospice also offers other benefits like reduced costs related to healthcare and an improved quality of life while they're living with an illness.