10 Myths About Hospice Care Debunked

Myth #1: Hospice is a place.

Many of our patients stay in their own homes or live in a loved one's home. If this is your preference, we'll do whatever is possible to keep you in your home or with your family and friends. We also have dedicated teams that partner with alternative home staff to care for the individuals who live in them and require hospice care. By working together, we enhance the residential facility's excellent services. If your loved one is currently in a hospital setting, we can begin hospice care before their discharge from the hospital, to make the transition to home seamless. Additionally, we have four inpatient hospice units with homelike settings provide short-term symptom management and care for the final days. Hospice care takes place wherever the need exists.

Myth #2: Hospice is only for the elderly.

Although the majority of hospice patients are older, hospices serve patients of all ages. Our agency offers clinical staff with expertise in pediatric hospice and palliative care.

Myth #3: Hospice care is expensive.

Most people who use hospice are over 65 and are entitled to the Medicare Hospice Benefit. This benefit covers virtually all hospice services and requires little, if any, out-of-pocket costs. This means that there are no financial burdens incurred by the family, in sharp contrast to the huge financial expenses at the end of life which may be incurred when hospice is not used. There may be special circumstances where Hospice of the Western Reserve patients and families need financial assistance. As part of Our Care Promise, a Financial Resource Advocate is available to conduct a financial assessment and help answer questions regarding your options. For an appointment call: 216.383.2222, ext. 2290.

Myth #4: Hospice is for when there is no hope.

Hospice includes medical care with an emphasis on pain management and symptom relief. Hospice teams of professionals and volunteers also address the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient and the whole family. Our goal is that you can look back upon your hospice experience with gratitude, and with the knowledge that everything possible was done towards a peaceful death.

Myth #5: Patients and their loved ones are not consulted on care options.  

Not only are patients and their loved ones part of the decisions that are made, but the hospice philosophy also specifically focuses on patient-directed goals, which include family and loved ones. This was one of the fundamental concepts of the modern hospice movement developed by Dr. Dame Cicely Saunders. The patient and family are surrounded by a team comprising a physician, nurses, hospice aids, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors, and even volunteers.

Myth #6: All other treatments stop when an individual pursues hospice.

While hospice care primarily emphasizes symptom management and avoids extensive diagnostic testing, curative treatments, and repeated hospice admissions, disease-focused interventions may still be employed to alleviate symptoms. For instance, if the patient develops an underlying infection like a urinary tract infection or pneumonia, antibiotics may be administered to enhance the patient’s comfort. In cases of congestive heart failure, appropriate medications can be utilized to address the condition, ultimately improving symptoms, and enhancing the patient’s quality of life.

Myth #7: Patients no longer have access to their doctors once they are on hospice care.

The patient retains the freedom to choose. If they prefer to maintain their relationship with their own physician or nurse practitioner, they can do so, with the Medicare benefit covering these hospice-related visits. Moreover, our hospice organization is equipped to offer a dedicated primary care physician or nurse practitioner to ensure seamless and continuous care for the patient.

Myth #8: Only a doctor can make a referral to hospice.

Anyone can make a referral to hospice. This could be a friend, loved one, clergy, or clinical care worker. You can even call yourself. The choice to begin care is always up to the patient and family.

Myth #9: Hospice is limited to six months.

Hospice enrollment requires a prognosis of less than six months, determined through periodic evaluations by the nurse practitioner and physician, with a documented decline for qualification. While some patients, admitted with severe conditions, may pass within days, others may experience a gradual decline and remain on hospice for years. On average, hospice stays last about two months, and 90 percent of patients pass away within the initial six months of enrollment.

Myth #10: All hospices are the same.

 Medicare regulates the basic, core services of hospice care. However, there are key differences in the quality of care that hospices provide and the services they offer. Ask about patient/staff ratio, inpatient options, therapies, and programs that are not mandated but are beneficial to the patient and family’s well-being. Hospice of the Western Reserve prioritizes certifying our professionals to enhance the level of care we provide. 100% of our physicians and 89% of our clinical leadership are hospice and palliative care certified.