Hospice is here for patients and families
In the health care industry, awareness for hospice care continues to grow as more patients and families turn to hospice and understand the care hospice provides.
Although myths about hospice are that “it is only for cancer patients”, “hospice is giving up” or “too expensive, indeed the opposite is true.
Hospice illustrates that it is a vital part of end-of-life care and plays a significant role in health care in communities.
Here are some facts to know about hospice:
- Hospice is for any patient coping with the end-stage of any chronic disease, illness or
life-limiting condition. The criteria to receive hospice care is a diagnosis of six months or less to live. If the patient lives longer, hospice care may be extended. - If a patient decides to forego additional curative treatments or once there is no more that can be done, a patient’s wish for quality of life is fulfilled through hospice care.
- Hospice is not about giving up. Studies have shown that patients have lived longer on hospice than those who do not choose it.
- Hospice costs are 100% covered by the Medicare for qualifying patients and paid for as long as the patient continues to meet the criteria necessary. Services can also be covered by Medicaid and most private insurers. Generally, most community-based hospices believe that everyone has the right to receive care.
- Hospice is not a place but a specialized form of care. It can be received anywhere the patient calls home; the family home, nursing home, assisted living facility or hospital. At Houston Hospice Texas Medical Center facility there is a 33-bed inpatient when acute symptom control is needed.
- Aside from medical care, spiritual and emotional support are offered to both the patient and family. Bereavement services are available before and after a loved one dies.
- The patient may continue to see their primary care doctor along with the hospice team’s physician, nurse, CNA, social worker, chaplain and volunteer.
- Hospice does not hurry up or prolong end-of-life. Comfort care for the patient and family is the primary goal.
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