One question we receive quite frequently at Aspire Home Health and Hospice is, “How long does a person live after being put on hospice?” This is an excellent question, and it’s undoubtedly something many people would be curious about when considering hospice as an option for a loved one.
Before a conversation about how long a patient will live after being put on hospice services can be effective, it’s essential to know what hospice is. To learn about hospice services, take a look at this blog. After reading, come back here to learn more about how long a patient can live after being admitted. Or, if you’re already confident in your knowledge of hospice care, let’s continue!
I want to preface this blog by saying it’s very challenging to know how long a patient will live after being admitted to hospice services. Many factors will vary from patient to patient, so the best person to ask would be the patient’s primary care physician. We can have a general idea of how long they will live, but ultimately, there’s no way to have a standardized answer to this question.
The short answer to the question, “How long does a person live after being put on hospice?” is that it’s difficult to know. By its very nature, approval for hospice happens only when a patient has a terminal diagnosis and could reasonably die within six months. Most patients pass on during these six months, but more specific estimates for life expectancy will vary from patient to patient.
However, it is not unheard of for a patient to live longer than six months after being admitted to hospice services. In some circumstances—very rare, yet not unheard-of—patients can live 2-5 years after admittance. That being said, it is more than likely that a patient on hospice services will pass away within six months of admission.
I’m hopeful this blog has answered some questions regarding hospice services. Hospice is a surprisingly complicated service, and, understandably, people will have questions like this. If you still have questions about hospice services, I’d highly recommend giving us a call using the button at the top of our website. Our skilled staff are highly knowledgeable and are always happy to answer questions regarding hospice services.
