Examining the Truth About 6 Most Common Hospice Myths

One of the most prevalent myths about hospice is that it is exclusively for individuals in the final stages of life. In reality, hospice care on average is provided to patients with a prognosis of 6 months or less. Patients can also access hospice services earlier in their illness, with an approved doctor note.

Early enrollment in hospice allows patients to benefit from comprehensive pain management, emotional support, and symptom relief. By using hospice’s beneficial services, patients can have an improved quality of life during their remaining time.

The second most common hospice myth is that, by choosing hospice care, a patient and their family has abandoned all hope for recovery. In truth, hospice focuses on enhancing the patient's quality of life and ensuring they are as comfortable and pain-free as possible. It also provides understanding on different stages of grief, planning for legacies and vigils (a patient’s preferred final moments), and to provide helpful resources throughout the journey.

In some cases, hospice care patients might even graduate from hospice—meaning that their prognosis improves so much that hospice services are no longer required to live their life comfortably. For patients whose curative treatments may no longer be effective, hospice provides hope for peaceful and dignified end-of-life experiences and an opportunity for patients to spend meaningful time with loved ones.

Many people believe that hospice care can only be administered in dedicated facilities. However, the location of hospice services is largely based on the location and needs of each individual patient.

Services are often delivered in the comfort of the patient's own home, where they can remain in a familiar environment surrounded by their loved ones. Additionally, hospice care can also be offered in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals.

This is 100% wrong. Contrary to this myth, hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. Some individuals avoid seeing hospice services because they fear that hospice care is financially burdensome and not covered by insurance.

The kinds of financial coverage for hospice typically includes a wide range of services, such as medical equipment, medications, holistic hospice services, and interdisciplinary care. In reality, hospice is an accessible and affordable option for those in need.

While hospice care has often been associated with cancer patients, it is not limited to any specific illness. Hospice serves individuals facing various life-limiting conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer's, respiratory illnesses, and more.

Since every person and their dying process will be unique to them, hospice services are often customized based on the experience of each individual patient. The focus of hospice care is on addressing the unique needs and challenges of each patient, regardless of their diagnosis.

There are three main misconception associated with how hospice affects death:

1. Enrolling in hospice care may accelerate the dying process

2. Providing patients pain meds (like morphine) kills people

3. Hospice stops providing to patients food, water and meds, thus killing the patient.

All three of these misconceptions are far from the truth. Hospice care is designed to provide comfort and support, and its goal is never to hasten death. Contrary to the misconceptions, hospice care focuses on easing pain and enhancing the patient's overall well-being.