Hospice Usage In US Reaches Record Numbers Reports NHPCO

Main Category: Palliative Care / Hospice Care
Article Date: 16 Nov 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports that 1.2 million people with life- limiting illness received care from one of the nation's hospices last year. Approximately one-third of all deaths in the US were under the care of a hospice program.

Updated Facts and Figures representing data collected in 2005 have been released by NHPCO as part of November's National Hospice/Palliative Care Month. NHPCO annually releases its findings to demonstrate trends in end-of- life care. Additional facts:

-- Average length of service increased from 57 to 59 days.

-- Number of hospice programs grew from 3,650 to 4,160.

-- At 46 percent, cancer diagnoses account for less than half of hospice admissions.

-- One in five patients are of a minority race.

-- Twenty percent of hospices provide or are developing pediatric palliative care programs.

-- The 1.2 million hospice patients served includes 800,000 who died, approximately 200,000 patients who were admitted in 2005 but carried over to 2006, and 200,000 who were discharged alive.

President Bush signed a proclamation declaring November as National Hospice Month. The proclamation reads in part: "Hospice care enables many of our citizens to spend their final days in comfort and dignity surrounded by loved ones" ... "the dedicated work of hospice caregivers helps ensure that our citizens receive the services and support they need." (Read the President's Hospice Month Proclamation, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061031-1.html)

Hospice is not a place but a philosophy of care created to help people live with dignity, comfort, and compassion at the end of life.

"The theme for Hospice/Palliative Care Month 2006 is the Faces of Caring," said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. "The goal is to put a 'face' on quality end-of-life care - the faces of nurses, doctors, social workers, spiritual caregivers, homecare aides and volunteers who provide care and support to families during one of life's most challenging times."

For additional information about hospice, palliative care, advance care planning and talking with loved ones about these issues, visit http://www.caringinfo.org or call the HelpLine at 800/658-8898.

Hospice Facts and Figures (http://www.nhpco.org/files/public/2005-facts- and-figures.pdf)

NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
http://www.nhpco.org/