We understand that misconceptions about hospice care may hinder patients from seeking the support they require. It is crucial to address these misconceptions:
1. Myth: Hospice means giving up on life and losing hope.
♣ Truth: Hospice care is not about giving up on life or losing hope, but rather about finding comfort, peace, and dignity in the final stages of life. It is a valuable service for people with terminal illness and their loved ones, providing around-the-clock support, comfort, and hope during this difficult time.
2. Myth: Hospice care hastens death.
♣ Truth: Hospice care is focused on improving the patient’s quality of life during their remaining time by relieving pain, managing symptoms, and addressing emotional and spiritual needs. In some cases, hospice care can help patients live longer by managing their symptoms more effectively, reducing hospitalizations, and improving their overall well-being.
3. Myth: Hospice is solely for the last hours/ or week of life.
♣ Truth: Most families tell Hospice Foundation of America that they wish their loved one had received hospice care and support much earlier in their illness.
4. Myth: Hospice patients are given morphine right away even when not in pain.
♣ Truth: This is in fact a common misconception about hospice. The goal of hospice is to improve the quality of life for patients who have a terminal illness. Pain management is an essential aspect of hospice care, and opioids such as morphine may be used to manage pain. However, not all patients will require morphine, and it is not given right away without first assessing the patient’s pain level and developing a comprehensive treatment plan. Patients and families have the right to be involved in decision-making about pain management options and should be informed about the benefits and risks of all treatment options. Ultimately, the goal is to provide comfort and symptom management that is tailored to the individual needs of the patient.
5. Myth: Once you enter a hospice program, you can’t leave the program.
♣ Truth: Medicare gives the beneficiary an option to revoke hospice care whenever they wish to do so, for whatever reasons.
6. Myth: You can’t keep your own doctor if you enter a hospice program.
♣ Truth: It is up to the patient to have their physician follow them when they enter hospice care. Caring like family will work closely with your physician to ensure that your medical needs are being met throughout the hospice care.
7. Myth: Other medical care is not available to hospice patients.
Truth: Patients who are in hospice can still receive medical care that is not related to their hospice primary diagnosis. For Instance, if a hospice patient who is admitted with a diagnosis of Congestive heart failure develops a urinary tract infection or needs to have their toenails trimmed by a podiatrist, they can still receive treatment for these conditions.
8. Myth: Hospice requires that you give up all medication.
♣ Truth: Under hospice care, medication management is typically tailored to meet the patient’s needs. Our hospice medical team will work with you, your family, and your attending physician, (if you elected one) to develop a plan of care that includes medication management. The goal of hospice is to keep patients comfortable and pain-free while minimizing the side effects of medications. In some cases, less is more; the hospice medical team will make recommendations, but the patient/family has the last say on whether to discontinue certain medications.
9. Myth: Hospice only lasts for 6 months.
♣ Truth: Contrary to popular belief, hospice is not reserved for the last days or weeks of life, but rather, it is available for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less (if the terminal illness runs its normal course). If a patient lives longer than 6 months, they can still get hospice care, as long as the hospice medical director or other hospice physician recertifies (every 60 days) that they continue to meet hospice eligibility.
10. Myth: Hospice is costly and hard to enroll in.
♣ Truth: Hospice is covered by several insurances including Medicare, at no cost (Medicare) Our eligibility team will answer questions about your hospice benefits if you only have private insurance.