COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Hospice kills people.
Some people think that patients receiving Hospice services die sooner than they would otherwise. This is not true. Hospice does nothing to hasten a person’s death or artificially prolong his or her life. However, a recent study of cancer and heart disease patients found that hospice patients actually lived longer than those not receiving hospice care.

Hospice is for people with cancer.
While the hospice movement began by serving people with cancer who wanted to die at home, it is no longer exclusively for cancer patients. Now about 60% of hospice patients do not have cancer, but other life-limited conditions such as heart disease, lung diseases, dementia, or “debility,” which is simply old age.

A doctor has to make a referral to Hospice.
A common misconception is that a patient has to wait for a doctor to make a referral, the way a doctor refers a patient to a cardiologist or other specialist. This is not true. Anyone can make a referral to hospice at any time. There is no cost or obligation for an evaluation to determine if the patient is appropriate for hospice.

Hospice is only for the last few days or weeks.
Hospice care is for people in the last stage of life, not just for people who are on the verge of death. To be eligible for Hospice services a patient must have a prognosis of six months or less to live. However, it is much better to begin Hospice services as early as possible, than to wait so long that the patient and family cannot fully benefit from all the services available.

People can only receive six months of Hospice care.
Some people worry that if the patient lives longer than six months he or she will be kicked off of hospice services. This never happens. As long as the patient’s prognosis doesn’t change and he or she continues to decline – however slowly – Hospice services continue. There is absolutely no penalty if a patient lives longer than six months.

Hospice is expensive.
Hospice care is paid for by Medicare, Medi-Cal and private insurance. For patients with no insurance, there is a sliding fee scale which goes down to 0 for those with family incomes less than 250% of the federal poverty level. Once enrolled in hospice, all patients and families receive exactly the same services including medications, equipment such as an electric bed, wheelchair or oxygen, and the care of a team of professionals.

Hospice patients cannot see their own doctors.
Not true. Patients receiving Hospice services cont
inue to be cared for by their own doctor. Hospice coordinates care with the primary physician who continues to follow the patient.

Hospice is for people who have no hope.
When a patient enrolls in hospice, the goal of care is no longer a “cure” but for the patient to live as fully as possible – free of pain or other symptoms – for the remaining time available. The hope is for a peaceful death, surrounded by loved ones.