How to qualify for hospice

 In order to be eligible for hospice care, patients must have a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness or terminal disease with a life expectancy of six months or less. The American Cancer Society's American College of Surgeons' Guidelines for the End-of-Life Care of Cancer Patients recommend that all patients who are diagnosed with cancer and have a life expectancy of six months or less should be referred for hospice care.

Many patients choose to receive their end-of-life care in a home setting, but some prefer to receive it in an institutional setting such as an assisted living facility or long-term care center. Hospice services can be provided in these settings as well. The type of hospice care that is provided will depend on the specific needs and preferences of each patient. 

Some common types of hospice care include:

-Families can be involved in the decision-making process regarding their loved one's medical care and end-of-life planning. Many families choose to use hospice as part of their loved one's end-of-life plan because they believe it will provide better care and comfort than what they could provide on their own.

-Hospice provides emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. It helps them cope with the difficult emotions associated with receiving end-of-life care, such as grief, fear, anger, or denial.

-Hospice may also provide physical comfort measures such as massages, aromatherapy, or visits from a chaplain. These can help ease the symptoms of symptoms associated with advanced disease or pain from medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. - 

In addition to providing physical comfort measures, hospice workers