End of life decisions are difficult for both patients and loved ones. Many people avoid the discussion altogether, however hospice can provide peace and relief during the final stage of life, allowing patients and loved ones to enjoy their time together as comfortably as possible. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of inaccurate information out there and many people believe things that just aren’t true.

We hope readers will find this informative and comforting. Many people do not realize that alleviating fear and providing comfort are enormous benefits to a loved one; it may be the biggest thing you can ever do for them. Hospice care focuses on your loved one; it’s real care that concentrates on enabling them to live life as fully as they can while they’re coping with their illness. Let us address the common myths of hospice.

Here are a few misperceptions that we hear regularly.

Myth: Hospice care is only for people with cancer.
Truth: Hospice is offered to patients with any end stage cancer, pulmonary, cardiac, or renal disease, end stage neurological disorders, HIV, and more. Typically, hospice is referred when a patient has chosen to focus on quality of life vs. continuing to undergo aggressive treatments for a disease no longer likely to be cured.

Myth: Hospice care is only for elderly people.
Truth: Hospice is available to anyone facing a life-limiting illness regardless of age or disease.

Myth: Hospice is only for the last weeks of life.
Truth: Hospice care is intended for patients who are expected to live six months or less if the illness runs its natural course. Patients can receive hospice care for months, not just the final weeks, and they can be recertified for additional six-month periods.

Myth: Choosing to receive hospice care means you are giving up on life.
Truth: Hospice does not mean giving up on life or giving up hope. It simply means you are prioritizing the patient’s wishes and comfort for whatever time they have left. It focuses on maximizing quality of life and enabling them to live as fully as possible.

Myth: Hospice hastens death.
Truth: Hospice care neither hastens nor postpones death. It provides comfort and support by managing symptoms and ensuring their comfort and dignity. People that do receive hospice care tend to live longer than those that do not.

Myth: Hospice is a place.
Truth: Hospice is provided wherever the patient feels the most comfortable. This is usually at home but can also be wherever the patient calls home – a nursing facility, an assisted living home, or a retirement community.

Myth: You have to give up your own doctor when going into Hospice care.
Truth: Ascend allows patients to continue seeing their regular doctor while providing an extra layer of support through nurses, volunteers, and social workers.

Myth: Hospice is only beneficial to the patient.
Truth: While hospice provides nurses and doctors that focus on keeping the patient pain and symptom free, hospice also reduces stress and anxiety for in-home caregivers. Families are more confident with our logistical help, emotional support and instruction on how to give medications properly. Knowing what to expect as an illness progresses and having advice available 24/7 often prevents episodes of panic and unnecessary hospital readmissions. Our teams also help families for a year after a loved one passes by providing bereavement and grief counseling.

Myth: Hospice care is expensive and not covered by insurance.
Truth: All of Ascend’s services are paid for by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances. We provide comprehensive services, including medications, medical equipment, and support, with minimal out-of-pocket costs for the patient and family.

Myth: Once you choose hospice, you can't go back to curative treatment.
Truth: Patients can postpone hospice care at any time if they wish to pursue curative treatments again or if their condition improves. They can also reinstate hospice care if they meet the eligibility criteria later.

Myth: Hospice care and palliative care are the same thing.
Truth: While hospice allows patients to return to the highest quality of life during a serious illness, our palliative care services bring an extra layer of care and support and are provided consecutively with curative treatment. We focus on the relief of symptoms and stress to help the patient focus on comfort and quality of life.

Ascend hopes to bring light to all the advantages that hospice offers by correcting some common myths of hospice. Ultimately, hospice care is a unique program that provides physical, emotional, and spiritual care, helping patients get back to who and what they love.

For more information, questions, or support, contact the team at Ascend by calling 866.821.1212 or request additional information here.