Many patients and their families have learned about the importance of end-of-life care, also known as hospice care. Since the availability of hospice benefits under the Medicare program, this type of care has become popular. Hospice services are intended to increase the patient’s lifespan and improve his quality of life. Service providers at the hospice facility focus on the spirit, body, and mind. In most cases, patients with incurable diseases consider hospice treatment. But, how long does a patient live if he is under hospice care California?

How to calculate the average life expectancy of a patient under hospice treatment

Many families do not enroll their patients in the hospice treatment program until they are dying. According to a study, almost 50% of patients who have considered hospice treatment died within 3 weeks. However, there are also patients who have died within a week of receiving hospice services.

It is to be noted that most patients survive for around 6 months. The truth is that an accurate prediction of a patient’s lifespan is impossible. Every patient’s case is unique. Those who are below 65 but have chosen hospice services may not die within 6 months.

There are several other factors affecting the lifespan of the dying person.

• Gender- Gender is one of the important factors for determining how long a patient with a terminal illness will live. Men have a comparatively shorter lifespan and die within 6 months.
• Location- Some patients are enrolled in hospice treatment after getting discharged from a hospital. In most cases, they do not live longer than 6 months.
• Diagnosis- Cancer patients die earlier than patients suffering from other diseases. The mortality rate is low for patients who are experiencing dementia.

Thus, you should focus on these factors to calculate the average lifespan of patients who have registered with a hospice facility. 

Hospice care in California prolongs life

The best hospice nurses, physicians, and counselors have observed that it is beneficial to patients who have chosen the hospice treatment program without delay. The patients receive one-on-one care and constant attention from the caregivers. Thus, it increases the potential to have a longer lifespan.

Under hospice treatment, patients will have reduced discomfort. Well-trained hospice service providers meet the patient’s medical needs. However, hospice does not involve only physical care. It also gives importance to the social and emotional needs of the patients and their families.

Can patients get discharged from their hospice facilities?

In some cases, Arcadia hospice care in California improves the patient’s condition. It allows the doctor to restart proper treatment. So, the patient will no longer be qualified for hospice service.

But, patients may get discharged for several other reasons. For instance, they can avoid hospice if they longer need medical equipment or therapeutic solutions. However, they can appeal to hospice to get readmitted in case the condition deteriorates. 

If needed, you can move your patient from one hospice facility to another. A hospice center can discharge a patient whose behavior is uncooperative, disruptive, and abusive. It is because this type of behavior can affect the comfort of other patients in the facility.

Conclusion

Many people wonder how much longer patients will live if they are admitted to hospice care in California. The biggest myth is that hospice is available only for persons entering the end days of their life. Although most patients wait till death is very close, hospice is suitable for patients who will love a couple of months or longer. The longer a patient is in hospice, the better opportunities he gets for the rest of his life.