Hospice Myth's
Many people have misconceptions about what hospice is. Below you will find the most common misconceptions.
The hospice team will provide all aspects of care for the illness that qualifies a person for hospice services, hospice patients are still free to seek treatment for unrelated illnesses or conditions. For example, if someone is receiving hospice care for heart disease falls and breaks their arm, treatment for the broken arm would be available.
Hospice isn’t about giving up hope but redefining hope by helping patients to restore relationships, find peace, and spend time with their loved ones without aggressive medical intervention that often is painful and intrusive.
Hospice is not a place but a philosophy of care. Wherever a patient calls home is where hospice care is provided: residence, assisted living facility, nursing home, inpatient facility (hospice house) or hospital.
Hospice care is for any patient diagnosed with a terminal illness, that could result in death within 6 months, giving patients time with family, friends, and pets, and the possibility of extended support from the hospice interdisciplinary team. Although hospice care neither hastens death nor prolongs life, studies show that patients with certain illnesses live somewhat longer with hospice care than those with the same illness who don’t choose hospice care.
Each patient is assigned a team of care givers to provide hospice care. A RN case manager, working under the medical director, will assign CNAs that help with bathing and grooming, an LVN, a social worker to assist with planning, preparation, family issues, and to see what programs the family may qualify for, and a chaplain for spiritual needs. This team meets bi-weekly with the doctor to discuss the patient and and family.