There are 3,000 hospices in the United States, served by 25,000 professionals and more than 100,000 volunteers. More than 1 million Americans have been served by hospice care since the mid 1970s. A nationwide Gallup survey conducted for the National Hospice Organization in 1996 showed that 9 of 10 adults would prefer to be cared for at home if terminally ill with six months or less to live. Hospice is covered under Medicaid in 42 states plus the District of Columbia. Nearly 80 percent of hospices are Medicare-certified.
Hospices care for about half of all cancer deaths in America.
81 percent of hospices offer bereavement programs and services to the community. A majority of hospices also provide memorial services, educational programs to the com munity, and individual or family counseling.