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Hospice Myths and Facts
Myth: Hospice care is only for terminally ill cancer patients.
Fact: Hospice serves patients with any terminal illness including, but not limited to, cancer, heart disease, ALS, kidney failure, COPD, dementia and failure to thrive. Hospice care includes the patient and family as the unit of care.
Myth: Hospice care is only for a few days of life.
Fact: Hospice is for any patient experiencing a terminal illness. The longer the patient and family work with the hospice team, the greater the benefits, in terms of comfort, quality of life and life closure opportunities.
Myth: Not all insurance covers hospice care.
Fact: Hospice is covered by Medicare and all third party payors in the State of Maine since 2002.
Myth: The physician/patient relationship ends when a patient signs on to hospice.
Fact: The primary physician is a key player on the interdisciplinary team, providing medical management for the hospice patient throughout the terminal illness.
Myth: Hospice speeds the dying process.
Fact: Hospice neither hastens nor postopnes death. Death is a natural part of life, and one in which important developmental tasks may be completed.
Myth: Signing on to hospice or signing off is an irrevocable decision.
Fact: Hospice is a flexible program that honors patient and family choice. Patients may enter or leave as needed without penalty, as long as they continue to meet the criteria.
Myth: Hospice patients cannot call 911.
Fact: Hospice patients are strongly urged to call the hospice when crisis situations arise. Hospice nurses are available 24 hours a day to respond to problems. Should the patient or family still feel the need to call 911, they may revoke the benefit and do so. Hospice does not cover the cost of 911 emergency response.
Myth: A hospice patient can never return to the hospital.
Fact: The patient can return to a hospital for pain and symptom management OR they can revoke the hospice benefit and seek aggressive treatment OR they can be hospitalized for any illness not related to the terminal illness.
Myth: Hospice only uses morphine.
Fact: Morphine is only one of several medications used to manage pain and symptoms. Medication decisions are made on a case by case basis by the physician in collaboration with the hospice team.
Myth: The patient must be homebound
Fact: There are no homebound rules for hospice patients. They are encouraged to participate in life to the fullest extent possible.
Myth: The hopsice patient must have a primary caregiver in the home.
Fact: The patient does need to designate a primary caregiver, but New Hope Hospice does not require that person to be living with the patient on a 24 hour basis. The primary caregiver is responsible for arranging care when the patient can no longer remain alone safely.
If you or your physician have any questions about hospice care, please call us at
(207) - 843-7521. We are also available to speak to groups about hospice care and pain management.
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