Hospice Myths vs. Reality
Myth: Hospice is a place that I must leave my home to use
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Reality: Hospice care can be provided in the home as well as in local facilities such as nursing homes or hospitals.
Myth: Hospice and palliative care are only for seniors.
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Reality: Life-limiting conditions affect patients of all ages; care is customized to the disease and not the age.
Myth: Hospice care is only for patients who can afford "extra" medical expenses.
Reality: Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance.
Myth: Hospice patients can only receive pain medications.
Reality: Patients may remain on other medications as needed while receiving hospice care.
Myth: Using hospice and palliative care means you or your family are “giving up”.
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Reality: Hospice care refocuses care towards creating hope of symptom management and quality of life.
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Reality: Palliative care is received while curative treatment is ongoing.
Myth: Hospice care ends when a patient passes.
Reality: Grief support extends to the patient's family and caregivers for 13 months following the death of a loved one.
Myth: Once admitted to hospice or palliative care, you can never leave.
Reality: Patients may be discharged from hospice care should they choose.
Myth: Hospice and palliative care are only for cancer patients.
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Reality: There are many conditions that can create a need for hospice or palliative care such as: cancer, MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, AIDS, stroke, heart conditions, liver disease, lung disease, kidney disease/failure and other natural effects of aging.
Myth: Hospice care accelerates death.
Reality: Studies show that hospice patients many times live longer and more comfortably than patients not on hospice care with similar life-limiting conditions.
Myth: Hospice care is for when death is imminent.
Reality: Patients with life-limiting conditions can receive the benefits of hospice care when there is a life expectancy of six months or less if a disease runs its normal course.