Final answer:
To be eligible for hospice care, patients are generally expected to have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice's goal is to provide comfort and support, rather than to cure, and it can take place at home to ensure a peaceful environment during end-of-life care.
Step-by-step explanation:
To receive hospice care, a patient must typically have a prognosis of six months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course. Hospice care is a compassionate form of care designed for those nearing the end of life, and it focuses on comfort and quality of life, rather than curative treatment. It emphasizes the relief of pain and symptoms and provides psychological, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families. Research has indicated that patients receiving hospice care may have a longer survival time than those who do not receive this type of care. The hospice approach encourages care in a comfortable and familiar setting, often the patient's home, which can enhance their sense of dignity and peace during the final stages of life.