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- Hospice is a place the terminally ill go - it is a service provided by an exceptional group of medical professionals in the patient’s home. The patient may reside in a nursing home, assisted living or their own home.
- Hospice requires that the patient die within 6 months - regulations state that the patient be diagnosed with a terminal illness, aggressive cures are not being pursued and the patient’s prognosis is 6 months or less. There have been many instances when patients have stabilized or gone into remission once our services begin which allows them to live a quality life far beyond the six month period. If Hospice discharges the patient, the patient is eligible to return to hospice when the illness begins progressing.
- Hospice is just for patients diagnosed with cancer - services are available for any terminal diagnosis.
- Hospice is just for the last week of life - the earlier a patient begins receiving services, the earlier they can begin experiencing a quality of life they may have been lacking due to the symptoms of the disease.
- Hospice is just for pain management - Hospice has a professional team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, nursing assistants, volunteers and other professionals who work together to meet the needs of the patient and their family. Helping the patient address the issues they are experiencing whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual, is what the Hospice team is called to do.
- Hospice requires you to change doctors - Often doctors who refer a patient to Hospice defers the care of the patient to the medical director of the hospice but this is not a requirement. Some referring doctors choose to manage their patient’s treatment while the patients are receiving Hospice services. The choice is the doctors.
- Hospice benefits are just for six months - Benefit eligibility varies according to the patient’s insurance plan. Hospice is a fully covered Medicare benefit, with no out-of-pocket expense. Medicare benefits are paid as long as the eligibility requirements are met. Hospice is also fully covered by most Medicaid and private insurances.
- Hospice requires a 24-hour caregiver reside with the patient - There may be a time when the patient’s disease progresses to the point that a caregiver is needed on a 24 hour basis. Hospice does not routinely provide 24 hour care but will work with the family to insure that the needs of the patient are met.
- Hospice requires that the patient be ready to die - There is no requirement that the patient accepts death. Denial is an acceptable coping mechanism but regulations do require that the patient is aware of Hospice’s purpose which is not to cure but to care.
- Hospice just provides services to the patient - Hospice uses a holistic approach meaning hospice is designed to support the entire family.
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