Death is a natural part of the cycle of life, and hospice neither prolongs life nor hastens death. The goal of hospice is to provide pain control, symptom management and spiritual and emotional support to help seriously ill people live in comfort and dignity until they die.

What are the chances of surviving hospice?

But in recent years, nearly 1 in 5 patients has been discharged from hospice before he or she dies, according to government reports. A study published last month in the journal Health Affairs finds that hospices with the highest rate of so-called live discharges also have the highest profits.

Does hospice mean end of life?

The short answer to this question is no. In order to qualify for hospice care, your loved one must have received a prognosis of life expectancy of six months or less from their doctor. This doesn’t mean they are going to die in that time. It just means the doctor feels they could possibly pass away within six months.