What Is Hospice

Hospice Myths

We enrich life in surprising ways. Explore the myths below to learn more about the hospice care we provide.

• I'm giving up.

  

  Myth: Hospice means I am giving up. Giving up hope. Giving up trying. Giving up praying for a cure.

  Fact: In order to receive hospice, the patient must be eligible and have an understanding that hospice focuses on comfort care (palliative), not cure. But patients and families do not have to be "ready to die" before getting the care they need and deserve. Hospice helps patients and families deal with what is happening to them on their own terms and in their own time frame. It is important to get hospice early so that the benefit can help patients prepare and get ready for what is happening; it is not required that patients be ready prior to receiving care.

• I can't afford hospice.

  

  Myth: I can't afford hospice.

  Fact: The Medicare and Medicaid Hospice Benefits cover services related to the terminal prognosis. If patients have private insurance or managed care, we assist in checking their benefit coverage to make sure patients and families understand any potential out-of-pocket costs.

• Hospice is only for patients with cancer.

  

  Myth: Hospice is only for patients with cancer.

  Fact: Many hospice patients have diagnoses other than cancer. Many patients have other diagnoses or advanced stages of chronic diseases like pulmonary disease, Alzheimer's disease, renal disease, HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular or neuromuscular diseases.

• Hospice is a place.

  

  Myth: I always thought that hospice was a place—that building that I passed on the way home from work.

  Fact: Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a place. Hospice care can be provided in any place the patient calls home, whether that is a personal home, a skilled nursing center, assisted living facility or anywhere else.

• Hospice can't be provided in assisted living.

  

  Myth: Hospice care can't help take care of my dad in his assisted living apartment.

  Fact: Hospice provides care wherever a patient calls home, including, but not limited to assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, independent living facilities and personal homes.

• I can no longer go the hospital if needed.

  

  Myth: If I am under the care of hospice, I can no longer go to the hospital if I need to. What if my pain gets out of control?

  Fact: While hospice strives to manage pain and other uncomfortable symptoms outside of the hospital setting, a hospice patient always has the choice of whether or not to go to the hospital. The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers short-term general inpatient care in the hospital when a patient's symptoms can no longer be managed in another care setting.

• I need a signed DNR.

  

  Myth: The doctor said I had to sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order for my wife in order for her to get hospice.

  Fact: A patient can receive hospice without having signed a DNR. The hospice regulation actually says that hospices cannot discriminate against patients because of any advance directive choices.

• I still receive regular treatment for my disease.

  

  Myth: I can't consider hospice care early enough because I'm still getting treatments for my disease on a regular basis.

  Fact: The Medicare Hospice Benefit may cover chemotherapy, radiation, blood transfusions or other treatments if those treatments are providing comfort for patients eligible to receive the benefit (life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course).

• Hospice is not palliative care.

  

  Myth: Hospice is not palliative care.

  Fact: All hospice services are palliative in nature, however, not all palliative care is delivered under the Medicare hospice benefit. Hospice focuses on physical, spiritual and emotional support to the patient and family including family counseling, help with end-of-life decisions and bereavement services.

• Hospice requires caregivers prior to admission.

  

  Myth: I have to be available as the designated caregiver 24 hours a day in order for my loved one to get hospice.

  Fact: While some hospices require caregivers prior to the patient being admitted, we do not. We help coordinate community resources to keep the patient at home as long as possible, and then help the patient find an alternative location to receive care when care at home is no longer possible.

• I have to wait for a doctor's order.

  

  Myth: I have to wait for a doctor's order before I can learn more about hospice.

  Fact: Patients can choose for us to meet with them and discuss the benefit of hospice at any time. We cannot provide hands-on care to a patient without a physician's order. We work with each patient's physician to identify each patient's individual needs.