Here are some common hospice myths and facts.
Hospice is a place.
Samaritan serves people in their homes and other sites across five South Jersey counties.
We also operate two inpatient hospice centers, for people whose severe pain or other symptoms require intensive, short-term intervention.
Hospice means you’re giving up hope.
Hospice does not mean giving up hope. This is a common hospice misconception. Rather, hospice helps patients and families shift their hopes and priorities. Hospice focuses on maximizing the person’s quality of life − based on their individual choices and preferences − so the person can live as fully as possible for as long as possible. In fact, hospice patients often live longer and have a better quality of life than people who choose aggressive end-of-life medical care, according to multiple studies. Many families are grateful for these precious days, weeks or months with their loved one, and for the knowledge that the person had a more peaceful death.
Hospice care is expensive.
In addition, hospice care is covered by Medicaid, the VA, HMOs, and many commercial insurers. A sliding scale is available and care is provided regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.
In addition, hospice typically provides medical supplies and equipment at no cost to the patient, including incontinence products, wound dressings, a hospital bed, commode, oxygen machine, and the like. Click here to read more about hospice medical supplies and equipment >>
Once you choose hospice, you can’t change your mind.
Hospice Myth:
A patient should be referred to hospice only when he or she is very close to death.
Patients can benefit from hospice care well before they are about to die. For the patient and family to receive the maximum benefits of hospice care, the patient should be referred once their physician feels life expectancy is six months or less if the disease follows its regular course.
Hospice focuses on death and dying.
Hospice gives you a live-in caregiver.
Hospice provides periodic visits by professional caregivers, rather than live-in help. Samaritan’s staff is also available by phone 24/7 for guidance, support, and visits as needed. Hospice typically provides visits by doctors, nurses, home health aides, social workers, spiritual support counselors, and trained volunteers, based on the person’s individual needs as determined by the hospice nurse.
Some hospices, such as Samaritan, also provide the comfort of complementary therapies, including massage, music, pet, and aroma therapies as appropriate.
Hospice care is only for people with cancer.
You must have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate order) to receive services.
You do not need a DNR to receive hospice services. Patients who want to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if their breathing or heart stops are eligible to receive Samaritan Hospice services. Since the advent of Advance Directives (such as living wills), a DNR order is not required. Samaritan hospice patients who wish to receive CPR are provided with the education and support needed to make informed decisions about this choice. (A DNR is a medical order written by a doctor before a medical crisis occurs. It instructs health care providers not to perform CPR if a patient’s breathing or heart stops. Many terminally ill people choose to have a DNR, as resuscitation can result in further injury and disability.)
You cannot receive hospice services if you live alone.
You can receive hospice services if you live by yourself. The hospice team uses secure lock boxes, special communications systems, and community resources to allow patients to maintain their independence at home.
Your personal physician continues to oversee your plan of care and is responsible for initial and follow-up orders of care. They work closely with the hospice nurse.
If you are receiving hospice services, you cannot be hospitalized.
Most hospice patients prefer to not go to the hospital and to remain in their own home. If symptoms become unmanageable in the current setting, hospice can offer the inpatient level of care at one of our local inpatient centers or under contract with a skilled nursing facility. Hospice may determine that the patient needs to go to the hospital and will make that decision with the patient and family.
Hospice care is the same as palliative care.
Hospice is a form of palliative care. Both hospice and palliative care focus on relieving pain and other symptoms of serious illness, and increasing comfort and quality of life. However, hospice is for patients whose prognosis is six months or less. Palliative care can be given at any time during the course of severe illness, starting at the time of diagnosis, and can occur alongside curative treatment. Learn more about hospice vs. palliative care >>