Hospice Care

 

Myths and facts about hospice

MYTH:  Hospice cares only for patients diagnosed with cancer

FACT:   Hospice care is for patients and their families during any life-limiting
            illness.
 

MYTH:  Hospice care is only intended for patients who are rapidly

            approaching death.

FACT:   An early referral to our hospice program enables patients and

            families to fully benefit from The Chaplaincy’s Hospice support and

            services.
 

MYTH:  Hospice nurses encourage the use of morphine for all hospice patients.

FACT:   Various pain medications are utilized to obtain a patient’s comfort.

 

MYTH:  Choosing hospice care means the patient no longer seeks a cure
            through traditional treatments (i.e., chemotherapy, radiation, etc.).

FACT:   Occasional use of similar therapies may be necessary to provide
            comfort.
 

MYTH:  Acceptance of hospice care means that a patient can no longer see
            his/her own physician.

FACT:   Hospice encourages the patient’s physician to follow the patient onto

            the program and participate in his/her care plan.
 

MYTH:  Hospice care is only for those with private insurance.

FACT:   Hospice serves everyone, regardless of ability to pay.  Hospice care

            is covered under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance

            plans.
 

MYTH:  If patients are in the ER, they must be hospitalized for 3 days on
            Medicare before going on hospice.

FACT:   A patient can be admitted to hospice directly from the ER, without

            being hospitalized.
 

MYTH:  Acceptance of hospice care by both patients and families means that
            hope is lost.

FACT:  The hope for cure is transformed to hope for comfort, acceptance and
            peace.
 

MYTH:  Hospice care is no different than Home Health.

FACT:   Hospice is different in that hospice staff are specially trained in

            providing physical, emotional, spiritual care to patients and their

            families.  Grief support is provided to families following their loved

            one’s death.
 

MYTH:   Hospice patients must be homebound.

FACT:    Patients need not be homebound to receive hospice services. 

             Hospice helps patients to be as active as possible.  Our motto is

             “live life to the fullest”.

 

MYTH:   Hospice cares only for the patient.

FACT:    Hospice care provides physical, emotional and spiritual support for
             patients & their families.
 

MYTH:   Hospice services stop when the patient dies.

FACT:    Hospice provides free grief support to families for a year or longer

             after the patient’s death.

 

MYTH:   Once a patient is admitted to a hospice program, he/she cannot

             choose to leave.

FACT:    Patients may choose to leave the program and seek more

             aggressive treatment.

 

MYTH:   Hospice is a facility.

FACT:    Hospice care is provided wherever the patient may reside (i.e.,

             home, skilled nursing or assisted living facility, hospital, hospice

             in-patient unit) The Chaplaincy’s philosophy supports patients and

             families wherever they reside.

 

MYTH:   Only senior citizens can receive hospice care.

FACT:    Hospice cares for patients of all ages - from infants and children to

             young adults to senior citizens.