5 Common Misconceptions About Hospice Care | Elderlink Home Care

Nobody loves bringing up the subject of hospice care. Nonetheless, the never welcome subject of death is unavoidable. Over the years, we have seen how discomfort around this topic has discouraged many people from taking full advantage of the benefits of hospice care until it is too late.

In this article, we list five common misconceptions about hospice care. But first, let’s understand better what hospice care is all about.

Understanding Hospice Care

Hospice or Home Hospice, works not to cure an illness, but instead focuses on end-of-life care – focusing on quality of life rather than life saving measures. Hiring hospice staff is among the kindest decisions families can make so end-of-life care for their loved one can become more peaceful and comfortable. Emotional pain and physical stress among family members are also minimized.

With hospice care, a family member is normally the primary caregiver but with additional help of hospice staff, the patient is given attention that might be out of the family member’s purview, such as the monitoring of pain management and an elevated level of hands on care. Hospice staff is usually composed of the patient’s personal or hospice physician, a hospice nurse, in-home health aide and/or social workers. Clergy or spiritual counselors are also called in to assist the patient with the spiritual aspects of passing.

The hospice team of healthcare professionals and volunteers mentioned above has the primary responsibility of managing the patient’s pain and symptoms from the critical illness they’re suffering from. This includes providing the prescribed medication for the patient, as well as the necessary equipment and medical supplies that are needed for pain management.

The hospice team also teaches the family how to properly care for the patient – such as changing adult diapers, bathing the patient and preparing the right meals according to the patient’s recommended diet plan.

Other services worth mentioning include bereavement care, short-term inpatient care and emotional and psycho-social counseling to the surviving family.

Let’s look at the common misguided thoughts people have about hospice care.

Common Misconceptions About Hospice Care

1. Hospice care is only for the last few days of life.

One common mistake people make is to assume that hospice care is only provided during the last few days of a patient’s life. In fact, it is available to anyone of any age with a terminal diagnosis and life expectancy of six months or less.

2. Hospice care is only for cancer patients.

Although the top diagnosis among patients seeking hospice care is cancer, hospice care is provided to patients with many other diagnoses. Other common illnesses include cardiac and circulatory disease, followed by Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, respiratory disease, and stroke

Hospice is also not just about providing care for the sick. Family members also benefit from hospice care in the form of grief counseling and bereavement support after the patient’s death.

3. Hospice care is only provided in a special facility, like a hospital or retirement home.

When we speak of hospice, we don’t speak of a place. Home hospice care is provided to a patient in their own home, wherever their current home may be. This could be a nursing home, hospital, residential facility or private home. Hospice care is about keeping the patient comfortable. Many end-of-life patients express a profound desire to spend this time in their own familiar home. Making sure that the patient is taken care of in surroundings he or she feels comfortable in makes end-of-life care meaningful.

4. Hospice care is expensive.

Medicare began covering advance care planning in 2016 as a separate and billable service, which means that hospice care is provided by physicians and other health professionals.

46% of all Medicare beneficiaries who died in 2014 used hospice. Medicare offers a comprehensive hospice benefit covering an array of services provided in patients’ homes.

5. Hospice care is something a physician must bring up first.

You don’t have to wait for a physician to bring up the idea of hospice care for yourself or a loved one. Whenever you feel that serious medical care is crucial to prevent or alleviate distressing symptoms, it is always a good time to seek a hospice team to assist you.

 Hospice care is actually a viable option for most people and families. It always helps to get all the facts before making any decision about elderly care. Never hold yourself back from getting the right type of care for your loved one with a terminal illness. Home hospice care and non-medical home care complement each other very well and can provide an excellent support system for your loved one and the entire family. Elderlink Home Care is here to help.