When a physician makes a clinical determination that the patient has six months or less to live if the terminal illness runs its normal course, he or she becomes eligible for hospice services. By providing an extra layer of comfort and compassion, these services make all the difference when faced with a difficult terminal diagnosis.
One of the greatest advantages of hospice care is that if a patient lives longer than the initial prognosis prescribes, then they can continue to receive hospice care as long as their doctor recertifies them as terminally ill. This means that these patients can benefit from the exceptional services of hospice care while they are still facing their last days with dignity and grace.
While it can seem daunting at first, patients and their families who become educated on hospice care soon recognize it as an essential component of their journey.