“A safe place for travelers on a difficult journey.”
Hospice is a special way of caring for people with terminal illnesses and their families. It treats the whole person by striving to meet all of their needs – physical, emotional, and spiritual – as well as the needs of the family. The family is directly involved in making decisions, and in helping a person they love. Hospice serves the family as a unit, and is sensitive to any special needs. It enables people with terminal illnesses to make decisions about how and where they want to spend the rest of their life.
What makes hospice special?
Hospice is special because it concentrates on care – not cure. Hospice emphasizes:
Pain control – One of the major concerns is the fear of pain. Hospice aims to achieve control over pain, without impairing alertness.
Living life fully – Hospice helps patients achieve physical and emotional comfort so that they can continue on living. Patients are urged to stay active for as long as they’re able – for example, to take part in activities they enjoy or to do something they’ve always wanted to do.
Care at home – Usually, family or friends care for patients at home, amid familiar surroundings and loved ones. Care at home can help patients and families draw closer and enrich their lives. It can also help relatives and friends become less frightened about death.
Treating patients and loved ones as a unit – When someone has a terminal illness, his or her loved ones feel pain, too. Hospice programs also provide relief to caregivers, who may neglect their own needs.
Myths & Facts about Hospice Care
| Myths | Facts |
|---|---|
| Hospice means giving up hope | Hospice does not mean giving up hope, but can help people revise what they may hope for. Hospice focuses on maximizing the quality of life based on an individual’s choices, so that the person may live as fully as possible for as long as possible. |
| If a patient goes on hospice, the only outcome is death. | Some patients’ illnesses and symptoms subside to the point that they may be discharged from hospice care. They can then be re-admitted later when necessary. |
| You can’t keep your own doctor on hospice. | Most hospices establish working relationships with a large base of referring physicians so that patients can keep their own doctors even after admission to hospice care. |
| Hospice is only for cancer patients. | Hospice care is available to all terminally ill people and their families, regardless of diagnosis. Some of the most non-cancer diagnoses are congestive heart failure, dementia, and chronic lung disease. |
| Is it too early for hospice if the patient feels good or doesn’t have pain. | The patient’s prognosis, along with a desire for comfort care and support, should justify a hospice referral. |
| Hospice is useful only when someone needs heavy-duty pain medications, like morphine | Hospice care is designed to maximize the quality of relationships and experiences at the end of one’s life. This is accomplished by the provision of not only medical care, but also social, psychological, and spiritual support, given by a team of doctors, nurses, counselors, chaplains, and other professionals. |
Who pays for hospice?
Hospice care may be paid for in a variety of ways. For example:
MEDICARE
Medicare hospice benefits are provided for eligible patients who receive care from a Medicare-approved hospice program.
PRIVATE INSURANCE
Most private insurance plans provide a hospice benefit.
MEDICAID
In Texas, hospice coverage is available through Medicaid.
OTHER SOURCES
Patients may pay privately for hospice care. Grants, community contributions, memorial donations and other financial sources enable many hospices to provide free or reduced-cost services to people who need help.
