Many find hospice care an intimidating and daunting decision due to the several misconceptions that surround it. At HospiceMatch, we want to provide you with clear, accurate information about what hospice is, and what it is not.
Myth #1: Choosing Hospice Means Giving up
Hospice care does NOT signify surrendering or giving up hope. It represents a shift in focus from curative treatments to prioritizing comfort and quality of life. The overall goal of hospice care is to alleviate discomfort or distress, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, for both the patient and their loved ones. At HospiceMatch, we understand how important it is to find the best care for you or your loved ones based on your needs and preferences. This is why our goal is to help guide you through the process of finding the perfect hospice that suitably treats the person, not just the illness.
Myth #2: Hospice is a Place
“Hospice” is sometimes seen as a place patients go to receive end-of-life care, making it appear as a grim environment for the patient and their families. Although, it is not confined to a specific place, and it’s rather a philosophy of care focused on maximizing the quality of life and comfort for the patient. Thus, hospice care can be provided in various settings based on the patient's and their family's preferences.
Where You Can Receive Hospice Care: the patient’s home, a nursing home, assisted living facility, a hospital, or a designated hospice facility.
Hospice care is not just about where you receive care, but how you receive it. This is why HospiceMatch allows you to filter through various hospices based on location and services. We want to ensure you or a loved one receive the perfect care, wherever you call home.
Myth #3: Hospice is Only for the Last Days of Life
Hospice care is for the final stage of life, not just the final days. This misunderstanding causes many people to only receive hospice services for a few days or weeks.
As a result, patients and their families miss out on the benefits of early hospice intervention such as pain and symptom management in addition to providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support.
Hospice is typically intended for patients who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. Although, It’s important to note that this six-month timeframe is not a set timeline, and patients can continue to receive care as long as they meet the eligibility requirements. Additionally, patients experiencing significant pain, symptoms, or functional decline due to their condition may also be eligible for hospice care. To learn more about being eligible for hospice care and how to access hospice care, read our informative article here.
Myth #4: Hospice Care is Expensive
Many are under the impression that hospice care is costly and out of reach, which is preventing patients from receiving the quality end-of-life care they deserve. However, hospice care is covered under many insurance plans.
What Covers Hospice Care: Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance, and Veterans benefits
It’s important to note that some hospice programs offer charitable care or sliding fee scales if you do not have insurance or are having financial difficulties. To learn more about what programs or insurance will cover your care, find a hospice through HospiceMatch and request a call to get all of your questions answered. You can also visit our other informative article that goes into more depth about Medicare benefits and other insurance that will cover hospice care here.
Myth #5: Hospice is Only for the Elderly
Hospice care is not age-specific. It’s an approach to treatment that is meant to bring comfort and improve the quality of life for anyone facing a terminal illness, regardless of their age. Whether you need adolescent, adult, or elderly hospice care, it is our mission at HospiceMatch to find you or a loved one the perfect hospice, no matter the age.
Myth #6: Once On Hospice, You Can't Go Back to Curative Treatment.
It’s important to note that hospice care is typically not provided to individuals who are still receiving curative treatment. This is because hospice care is focused on providing comfort and support, rather than curing the underlying diagnosis. Although, If a patient's condition improves or they go into remission, the patient can be discharged from hospice and resume curative treatment. They also can return back to hospice if their condition worsens again. At HospiceMatch, we want to uphold your rights as a patient, so remember that you always have the right to stop hospice care at any time.
