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new study, published by Harden Hospice, confirms that the use of hospice in the United States continues to rise.
"The findings in this report support what we see every day," Lew Little, chief executive officer of Harden Healthcare, said. "An increasing number of patients and their families are realizing the unique blend of clinical, social and spiritual support services that hospice care provides. Hospice services allow them to focus on spending quality time with friends and family rather than on care-giving details during this difficult time. Hospice is also there to support the family after the loss of a loved one."
The statistical finds of the report reveal the nature of the growth of hospice care:
Almost 42 percent of all deaths in the United States took place under hospice care in 2010.
An estimated 1.58 million patients received hospice services in 2010.
The median time people spent in hospice care before dying was about 20 days.
Sixty-six percent of hospice patients died in their homes; 42 percent in a private residence other than their own homes; 21 percent in a "hospice house" and 18 percent in nursing homes.
Hospice patients died mostly of cancer (35.6 percent), followed by heart disease (14.3 percent).
The first hospice program in the United States opened in 1974, and currently, there are more than 5,000 programs nationwide.
The Medicare hospice benefit, enacted by Congress in 1982, is the major source of funding for hospice care.
Hospice provides an invaluable service to terminal patients and their families. If you have questions about Blues Skies Hospice please call (219) 554-0688.
