U.S. hospice patients by lifetime length of stay 2021
In the United States, one in four patients were enrolled a total of 5 days or less in hospice before they passed away*. Yet one in ten received care for more than 264 days across their lifetime. Hospice care involves caring for those who are terminally ill. Such care usually does not include treatment but focuses instead on making the end of life as comfortable as possible. Hospice teams can include nurses, home health aides, social workers and physicians.
Hospice providers
Hospice care can be provided at the patient’s home or in a facility, such as a nursing home, assisted living, hospital or hospice care center. In 2021, there were around 5,358 Medicare certified hospices in the United States. The large majority of theses are freestanding independent hospices, while a much smaller portion are part of a hospital system or part of a home health agency.
Hospice patients
In 2021, there were around 1.71 million hospice patients in the U.S. Female Medicare beneficiaries were more likely than male to use hospice services. Expectedly, older adults (over 84 years) were more likely to be a hospice patient than younger peers. The most common diagnoses were neurological and cancer
Hospice providers
Hospice care can be provided at the patient’s home or in a facility, such as a nursing home, assisted living, hospital or hospice care center. In 2021, there were around 5,358 Medicare certified hospices in the United States. The large majority of theses are freestanding independent hospices, while a much smaller portion are part of a hospital system or part of a home health agency.
Hospice patients
In 2021, there were around 1.71 million hospice patients in the U.S. Female Medicare beneficiaries were more likely than male to use hospice services. Expectedly, older adults (over 84 years) were more likely to be a hospice patient than younger peers. The most common diagnoses were neurological and cancer
