Myths About Hospice

MYTH 1:  HOSPICE IS A PLACE

REALITY 1:   HOSPICE CARE USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE COMFORT OF ONE'S HOME, BUT CAN BE PROVIDED IN ANY ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH A PERSON LIVES, INCLUDING A NURSING HOME OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

MYTH 2:  HOSPICE MEANS THAT THE PATIENT WILL DIE SOON

REALITY 2:  RECEIVING HOSPICE CARE DOES NOT MEAN GIVING UP HOPE OR THAT DEATH IS IMMINENT.  THE EARLIER THE INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES HOSPICE CARE, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY THERE IS TO ADDRESS THE PATIENTS MEDICAL, COMFORT AND/OR PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS

MYTH 3:  HOSPICE IS ONLY   FOR  CANCER PATIENTS

REALITY 3:  CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR DEMENTIA, CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE, FAILURE TO THRIVE, OR OTHER CONDITIONS ARE ALSO COMMON IN HOSPICE

MYTH 4:  HOSPICE PROVIDES 24 HOUR CARE

REALITY 4:  HOSPICE IS A VISITING SERVICE WHICH MEANS VISITS ARE MADE INTERMITTENTLY BY TEAM MEMBERS.  HOWEVER, THE HOSPICE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY/7DAYS A WEEK FOR SUPPORT AND CRISIS

MYTH 5:  PATIENTS CAN ONLY RECEIVE HOSPICE CARE FOR A LIMITED TIME

REALITY 5:  THE MEDICARE BENEFIT AND MOST PRIVATE INSURANCES PAY FOR HOSPICE AS LONG AS THE PATIENT CONTINUES TO MEET THE CRITERIA NECESSARY.  PATIENTS MAY COME ON AND OFF HOSPICE CARE AS NEEDED OR INDICATED

MYTH 6:  HOSPICE IS JUST FOR THE PATIENT

REALITY 6:  THE HOSPICE FOCUS IS ON COMFORT, DIGNITY, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.  THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PATIENT AND THE COPING ISSUES FACED BY THE CAREGIVER ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT

MYTH 7:  A PATIENT NEEDS MEDICARE OR MEDICAID TO AFFORD HOSPICE SERVICES

REALITY 7:  HOSPICE MEDICARE IS AVAILABLE IN 44 STATES AND MOST PRIVATE INSURANCES, HMO'S, OR OTHER MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE A HOSPICE BENEFIT.  SOME HOSPICES CAN PAY THROUGH DONATIONS OR MEMORIALS

MYTH 8:  A PHYSICIAN DECIDES WHETHER A PATIENT SHOULD RECEIVE HOSPICE CARE AND WHICH AGENCY SHOULD PROVIDE THAT CARE.

REALITY 8:   THE ROLE OF THE PHYSICIAN IS TO RECOMMEND CARE, WHETHER IT'S HOSPICE OR TRADITIONAL CURATIVE CARE.  IT'S THE PATIENTS RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHEN HOSPICE IS APPROPRIATE AND WHICH PROGRAM SUITS HIS NEEDS AS LONG AS HOSPICE CRITERIA IS MET

MYTH 9:  TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR HOSPICE CARE, THE PATIENT MUST BE BEDRIDDEN

REALITY 9:  HOSPICE CARE IS APPROPRIATE AT THE TIME OF THE TERMINAL PROGNOSIS, REGARDLESS OF THE PATIENT'S PHYSICAL CONDITION.  MANY OF THE PATIENTS SERVED THROUGH HOSPICE CONTINUE TO LEAD PRODUCTIVE AND REWARDING LIVES.  TOGETHER, THE PATIENT, FAMILY, AND PHYSICIAN DETERMINE WHEN HOSPICE SERVICES SHOULD BEGIN

MYTH 10:  AFTER 6 MONTHS, PATIENTS ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE HOSPICE THROUGH MEDICARE OR OTHER INSURANCES.

REALITY 10:  ACCORDING TO HOSPICE MEDICARE, SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED TO QUALIFYING BENEFICIARIES WITH A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 6 MONTHS OR LESS. IF THE PATIENT MOVES BEYOND THE INITIAL 6 MONTHS, HE CAN CONTINUE RECEIVING HOSPICE AS LONG AS THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN RECERTIFIES THAT THE PATIENT IS TEMINALLY ILL

MYTH 11:  ONCE A PATIENT ELECTS HOSPICE, HE CAN NO LONGER RECEIVE CARE FROM THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

REALITY 11:  HOSPICE REINFORCES THE PATIENT/DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP BY ADVOCATING EITHER OFFICE/HOME VISITS, ACCORDING TO PHYSICIAN PREFERENCE.  HOSPICE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE DOCTOR.  THE NURSE SERVES AS A "LINK" BETWEEN THE PATIENTS MEDICAL CONDITION AND HIS DOCTOR

MYTH 12:  ALL HOSPICE PROGRAMS ARE THE SAME

REALITY 12:  ALL LICENSED HOSPICES MUST PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES BUT THE RANGE OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS MAY DIFFER.  IN ADDITION, HOSPICE PROGRAMS AND OPERATING STYLES MAY ALSO DIFFER FROM STATE TO STATE DEPENDING ON STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.  SOME HOSPICES ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND SOME ARE FOR-PROFIT

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HOSPICE CARE?