Dispelling Hospice Myths
Hospice is a sign of giving up and losing hope.
Truth Hospice is not giving up or losing hope. Unlike other medical care, hospice is solely focused on providing comfort and dignity for individuals nearing the end of life. Hospice care acknowledges that sometimes there is no cure or aggressive treatment, and shifting priorities towards quality of life, comfort, and peace is important. Hospice provides expert pain and symptom management along with support from a team of professionals.
Hospice care is exclusively for cancer patients.
Truth Hospice is not only for cancer patients. While hospice initially started with cancer patients, today, the majority of hospice patients have other terminal illnesses such as neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, lung or kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and other dementias.
Hospice is where people are sent to die.
Truth Hospice is not just where people go to die. Most hospice patients receive care in their place of residence, including private homes, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. In some cases, hospice is provided in an inpatient hospice setting for people who cannot manage their pain or other symptoms at home.
Hospice is only for individuals who have a few hours or days left to live.
Truth Hospice care is not only for those whose death is hours or a few days away. Hospice care can be accessed up to six months before an expected death. Studies have shown that patients with certain illnesses live somewhat longer with hospice care than those who do not choose hospice care.
If you opt for hospice care, you can’t keep your own physician.
Truth Patients can keep their own doctor if they enter a hospice program. With hospice, the hospice physician can communicate with the patient’s physician to determine the specific medical needs to be addressed in developing an individual plan of care.
It’s the doctor’s responsibility to bring up the option of hospice care.
Truth The physician is not solely responsible for bringing up hospice care. Although it is the physician’s responsibility to determine medical eligibility for hospice services, patients or caregivers can initiate the discussion. Patients and families can also contact a hospice agency directly to learn more about their services without a physician’s referral.
Once you choose hospice care, you cannot change your mind.
TruthIndividuals are free to leave a hospice program at any time for any reason without penalty. Re-enrollment in a hospice program is permitted as long as medical eligibility criteria are met.
Hospice patients do not have access to other medical treatments.
TruthHospice patients are still free to seek treatment for unrelated illnesses or conditions while receiving hospice care.
A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a requirement for hospice care.
Truth A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order is not required to receive hospice care. While many people who choose hospice care wish to have a DNR, it is not a requirement.
All hospice agencies offer identical services.
Truth All hospice agencies are not the same. Hospice agencies may be nonprofit or for-profit, community-based, or serve many communities from a central location, independent or part of another organization such as a hospital or health system. All hospice agencies must meet the same basic requirements but may differ from one provider to the next.
People with intellectual or developmental disabilities cannot receive hospice care.
Truth Hospice care is available to anyone, of any age, who meets eligibility. Hospice care guidelines for those under 18 are different than guidelines for adults and allow concurrent care that includes efforts focused on both cure and comfort.
Hospice professionals accelerate death.
Truth Hospice professionals do not hasten death. The focus of hospice care is solely on symptom relief at the end of life, allowing natural death to occur in peace and with dignity. The medications used at the end of life are for symptom relief only and are never used to hasten death.
Hospice care is only available to the elderly.
Truth Hospice care can be accessed by individuals of any age who meet the eligibility criteria. The regulations set by the government for individuals under the age of 18 differ from those for adults, and they allow for concurrent care that prioritizes both healing and comfort.