When facing a loved one’s life-limiting illness, families often are overwhelmed by emotions, information, and choices. Unfortunately, misconceptions about hospice care can lead to unnecessary hesitation and delays in seeking support and relief. Understanding the truth behind common hospice myths can empower you to make confident, compassionate choices to enhance your family member’s comfort and quality of life.
Let’s take a close look at some of the most prevalent hospice-related myths and dig into the hospice facts every family should know.
Myth No. 1: Hospice is appropriate only when a client is in the last stages of life.
Fact: The hospice conversation should begin well before a person reaches the last stages of illness. Because hospice focuses on quality of life rather than curative treatment, it helps people with a life-limiting illness live comfortably. This enables them to experience a better quality of life for days, weeks, months, or longer.
Myth No. 2: Hospice is only for clients with cancer or who are older.
Fact: Hospice care is provided based on a person’s medical needs, not their age. It’s available to anyone, young or old, who faces a life-limiting illness and meets eligibility criteria.
Hospice also is guided by an individual’s quality-of-life needs rather than their specific diagnosis. Anyone with a life-limiting illness, regardless of what that illness is, qualifies. On average, 31% of people in nonprofit hospice care received a cancer diagnosis, but more than half of hospice clients nationwide are living with other conditions. These include emphysema, Alzheimer’s disease, or cardiovascular and neuromuscular illnesses.
Myth No. 3: Hospice is for people who don’t need a high level of care.
Fact: In reality, hospice care provides a high level of comprehensive medical support for clients with life-limiting illnesses. WesleyLife Hospice is Medicare-certified, employing experienced medical and nursing personnel with skills in symptom control. We use advanced technologies to prevent or alleviate distressing symptoms such as shortness of breath, anxiety, and fatigue.
Myth No. 4: Hospice is a place, such as a medical center.
Fact: Many people hear the word “hospice” and envision a medical center. In fact, hospice is not a place; it’s a mode of care that can be provided wherever the need exists.
WesleyLife Hospice services can be provided wherever an individual is most comfortable, whether in a private home, a senior living community, or a hospital. The hospice team’s focus is on bringing care to the client, not relocating them. This flexibility empowers clients and their families to spend time in familiar surroundings, with the people and things that bring them comfort.
Myth No. 5: Hospice isn’t an option unless it’s offered by a doctor.
Fact: Unfortunately, many people miss out on the benefits of hospice simply because no one mentioned it or they didn’t realize they could bring it up themselves. Clients, family members, or caregivers can ask about hospice care at any time.
If you’re wondering whether hospice might be the right step, request an evaluation. A hospice team will evaluate your loved one’s medical situation and determine if they qualify. Evaluating sooner rather than later can give your loved one the benefit of more comfort, support, and dignity.
Myth No. 6: Starting hospice care means giving up control of treatment.
Fact: Hospice care is client-directed, meaning clients and their families remain in control of key decisions, including what treatments they receive, where they receive care, and who is involved in their care. People receiving care also can continue seeing their preferred medical professionals, and the hospice care team will collaborate with those providers to create a thoughtful plan for coordinated care. The goal is to empower individuals to live fully and comfortably on their own terms, even with a life-limiting illness.
Myth No. 7: Families are discouraged from involvement in a loved one’s hospice care.
Truth: Hospice embraces a family-centered model of care, supporting both the client and their family members and caregivers. One of the gifts of hospice is its capacity to help families realize how much can be shared at the end of life through personal connection.
Hospice care is provided by a team that includes more than just medical professionals. Grief counselors, social workers, and chaplains are available to help family members process their emotions and find meaning throughout the hospice experience. It’s not unusual for family members to report feeling closer, more connected, and more at peace while their loved ones are receiving hospice services.
Myth No. 8: Hospice care is expensive.
Fact: Many worry that hospice comes with high out-of-pocket costs, but in reality, families often can access resources to make this care affordable or even fully covered. Look into the following to see if you or your family member qualifies:
- Private insurance plans
- Medicaid
- The Medicare Hospice Benefit
- Veterans benefits
- Tax deductions for specific portions of hospice care
- Hospice providers that offer a sliding-scale fee for families without adequate coverage
Myth No. 9: Hospice and palliative care are the same.
Fact: Although both hospice and palliative care focus on providing comfort-related treatment, they differ in timing and goals. Palliative care focuses on improving a person’s quality of life at any stage of disease, not just with an end-of-life diagnosis or certain prognosis, and it can be provided alongside curative treatments. Hospice care is specifically for people with a life-limiting illness who choose to focus on comfort rather than curative treatment.
Myth No. 10: Hospice care keeps the client sedated all the time.
Fact: The purpose of hospice care is to manage symptoms and pain, not to keep clients sedated. The hospice team, in coordination with the client’s medical professionals, will thoughtfully tailor medications to maintain the client’s quality of life while keeping them as alert as they want to be. The focus is on keeping the client present so they can share meaningful time with their family and friends.
Myth No. 11: Once hospice starts, you can’t stop or change your mind.
Fact: Hospice care is entirely voluntary, and clients can pause or stop services at any time. If a person’s condition improves or they decide to pursue a cure again, they can simply be discharged from hospice. They also can reenroll in the future if their needs change. Hospice care is designed to support each client’s choices, providing flexibility for evolving goals and preferences.
Gain a better understanding of hospice care facts.
When making decisions during a difficult time, understanding hospice care facts can make all the difference. Hospice is about choosing comfort and support from a team of compassionate professionals who walk alongside you and your family, helping you each step of the way. WesleyLife Hospice professionals understand those needs and are there for your family when you need us; in fact, our hospice services recently earned the highest military-related designation.
To learn more about hospice and whether it’s right for you or your family member, read The Complete Guide to Hospice.
