Hospice organizations in America aim at providing the highest quality, patient-centered end-of-life care. Yet some hospice-eligible patients do not enroll!
Are you afraid of the word “Hospice”?
Do you fully understand what hospice is actually about?
What’s the first word that came out of your mouth when someone says their loved one is in hospice? Is it –
“I’m so sorry”
Do you assume that people who are on hospice are very close to death?
When Miranda was diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, she had one wish. She wanted to live in the moment and enjoy every second of being alive. She wanted to stay in her home and do things she wanted to do, when she wanted to do and how she wanted to do.
Miranda was excited and grateful when Tina, an Inspiration Hospice nurse, assured that her wish could be fulfilled. She could stay in her home while receiving all the benefits of hospice care. Miranda was already an AMG client, and switching over to hospice care was seamless.
When asked how hospice impacted her life, Miranda said, “Switching to hospice was the best decision that I took. People often think it is a scary thing and is only for people who are about to die. But for me, it was amazing. It made me feel comfortable and active.”
Miranda said she enjoys the weekly visits from a social worker, volunteer, a hospice aide, and a massage therapist. “They are all wonderful people. I love seeing them,” she added. Moreover, as her medical insurance cover all the expenses, she was not worried about becoming a financial burden on her family.
Tina said while many people are afraid to say yes to hospice because of the stigma attached, most people, like Miranda, experience an improved quality of life after enrolling with hospice.
Hospice services make the lives of patients and their caregivers much easier.
Get Your Facts Right!
Hospice is not a death sentence as a majority of people assume it to be. The biggest myth that surrounds hospice care is that a person who chooses hospice is giving up on his life. Some people think that hospice is for people who are on the verge of death and can pass away within days or weeks.
However…
That’s NOT True at all!!!
Instead, Hospice is a type of medical care where the underlying goal is to improve the patients’ quality of life. Hospice is beneficial for patients whose disease, illness or condition is unlikely to be cured through medications or therapies.
Hospice care place a special focus on controlling pain and discomfort rather than treating the illness. Hospice provides comfort and support to the patient as well as the family caregivers.
Does Hospice Speed Up Death?
Patients and families are often worried that once they enroll in hospice; it will speed up the dying process.
While morphine and opioids are used to control pain or shortness of breath, at the end of life, it does not hasten death.
- There is no evidence to support the claim that morphine hastens the dying process when the patient is receiving the right dose to control the symptoms.
- Research suggests that using a controlled dose of opioids or morphine to treat pain near the end of life actually helps the patient live a little longer.
- If a person has never received morphine, the initial dose is low and is gradually increased.
- There a difference between dying from too much morphine and natural dying.
Morphine and opioids play an important role in helping improve the patients’ quality of life and maintaining their comfort throughout the illness.
But Isn’t Hospice Only Available for 6 Month?
For a patient to become eligible for hospice, his doctor must certify that he may not live beyond 6 months.
While this can sound scary, it is not always true!
A doctor certifying that you have 6 months or less to live does not equal to the doctor saying you will DEFINITELY die in 6 months.
Qualifying for hospice does not mean that you are going to die within the 6 months frame. Rather, it just means that for the upcoming 6 months, your needs will be evaluated and reevaluated to see if you are still eligible for hospice.
In certain cases, patients choose to discontinue hospice care because their health has improved so much. Such patients may enroll again with hospice on a later date due to their deteriorating health.
Hospice Care is only for Cancer Patients!
Another myth that people believe in.
Hospice care is not only for a cancer patient but for everyone living with life-limiting terminal illnesses. There are many chronic illnesses in which a patient can be considered to be terminally ill with a limited life expectancy,
People living with terminal neurological conditions, dementia, and have evidence of a decline in their health status is eligible to take advantage of hospice care.
Hospice care focuses on helping the patient feel comfortable instead of continuing with the aggressive therapy. Opting for hospice at an early stage helps the patient enjoy the benefits. If hospice is chosen as the last resort, then there is very little that can be done to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Alternative when hospice is elected sooner, the patient can actually live longer because their pain and distressing symptoms are controlled.
Hospice Care for Families Too
People are scared of hospice for a number of reasons. Some believe the misconceptions while others are skeptical of the services.
However, what not many people know is that hospice not only cares for the patient but can help families too.
Benefits for families
- No need to travel to see the doctor when a registered nurse comes to your home
- Hospice professionals are just a phone call away at any hour of the day or night
- Hospice is less expensive than a hospital stay
- Get help with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Hospice experts offer family guidance, support and grief counseling
Will I Benefit from Hospice?
Hospice care is beneficial for any person living with a life-limiting terminal illness. Under hospice care, the doctor, registered nurses, volunteers, and other health care professionals visit the patient in the comfort of his home, thus eliminating the need to travel to the doctor’s office.
Hospice is not giving up on life, it is full of hope!
As Miranda said, “If there’s one thing people should do when they are confused about end-of-life care, it is to enroll with hospice. Hospice is not as scary as people believe it to be. Rather, hospice help improves the quality of life and I am glad I took the right decision.”
Don’t be AFRAID of hospice. Choosing hospice care does not mean giving up on life. The earlier you receive hospice care, the more opportunities you have to address your needs. It allows you to stay in the comfort of your home and avoid going back and forth to the hospital.
Moreover knowing that expert help is just a phone call away at any hour of the day or night is a relief. Patients who choose hospice are able to live peacefully and die comfortably in their home surrounded by their loved ones. Instead of being a scary institution, Hospice is a source of comfort and hope for the patients and their families.
Inspiration Hospice provides reliable home health & hospice care. At Inspiration Hospice, We believe that nothing is more important than delivering compassionate and loving care to our patients and families.
Inspiration Hospice offers a broad array of services specially designed to help improve a patient’s quality of life. A majority of the services are paid by the medical insurance and there is no out-of-pocket cost involved for the patient.
Get The Care You Need. Call To Learn More About Our Hospice Care Services.
