A nurse is reviewing the purpose and criteria for hospice care with a group of nursing students. Which statement best reflects the understanding of a commonly used eligibility criterion for hospice care?

Hospice care is a palliative approach focused on comfort care, symptom management, psychosocial support, and quality of life for clients with terminal illness. Eligibility is typically based on a prognosis of limited survival with emphasis on non-curative, patient-centered end-of-life care planning. Rationale: A. Life expectancy of ≤6 months is the standard eligibility criterion for hospice under most guidelines if the disease follows its natural course. It reflects terminal prognosis and shift to palliative goals. Therefore prognostic threshold correctly defines hospice qualification. B. Emotional support alone does not determine hospice eligibility. Hospice requires a terminal diagnosis with limited life expectancy, not solely psychosocial needs. Thus non-clinical indication is insufficient to meet established hospice admission criteria. C. ADL impairment may indicate functional decline but does not independently qualify a client for hospice care. Eligibility depends on prognosis rather than functional status alone. Therefore functional limitation without terminal prognosis is not a primary criterion. D. Curative treatments do not need to be completely exhausted before hospice enrollment. Clients may choose to forgo curative therapy in favor of comfort-focused care. Thus treatment completion requirement is incorrect regarding hospice eligibility criteria.