Hospice Care Myths & Facts

What hospice care myths have you heard of? Checkout the below and see if your thinking was wrong, and read up on the facts associated with this important type of care:

1. MYTH: Hospice care is only for cancer patients.
   FACT: Less than half of our patients have a diagnosis of cancer. Our end-of-life care includes patients with heart and lung disease, Alzheimer’s/dementia, stroke and many other diagnoses.
2. MYTH: Hospice care hastens death.
   FACT: Hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death. Some studies suggest that patients who receive hospice care may live as long as — or even longer than — those who do not receive hospice, likely because their symptoms are managed and stress is reduced.
3. MYTH: Hospice uses morphine to speed up death.
   FACT: Medications like morphine are used in hospice care to relieve pain and ease breathing discomfort — not to hasten death. When someone is seriously ill, unmanaged pain or shortness of breath can cause significant suffering. Carefully prescribed medications allow patients to remain comfortable, alert, and at peace. Hospice care follows strict medical guidelines and ethical standards. Our goal is always to improve quality of life, provide comfort, and support each person’s natural journey — never to shorten it.
4. MYTH: Using hospice care means giving up.
   FACT: Hospice care offers hope for freedom from the fears of isolation, abandonment, loneliness, loss of control and physical pain; and hope that the family will be nurtured and supported.
5. MYTH: Hospice means you have to stop all prior medications.
   FACT: Hospice does not require anyone to stop medications. We do a thorough review of medications to ensure they are still of benefit to you and are NOT harmful in this stage of life.
6. MYTH: Hospice care is only for the last two weeks of life.
   FACT: Hospice care is available to all patients with a life expectancy of six months or less.
7. MYTH: Hospice care is expensive.
   FACT: Medicare, Medicaid, and many insurance plans cover 100% of charges for hospice services.
8. MYTH: Hospice care means I have to give up my doctors & routine care.
   FACT: Hospice encourages you to stay involved with other physicians and hospice is ONLY responsible for care related to the terminal disease.
9. MYTH: Only a physician can refer a patient for hospice care.
   FACT: Anyone – patients, loved ones or others involved in providing care – can make the first contact with Hosparus Health. We will then follow up with the patient’s physician to determine eligibility.

Anyone can make a referral to Hosparus Health. Call us today at 800-264-0521 to learn if you or your loved one would benefit from our services.