3. Myth: Hospice
only helps patients during the last week or two of life.
Fact: The Hospice Medicare Benefit is designed to provide care at the last six month of life. It is best not to wait for crisis to occur before allowing hospice services to be implemented.
4. Myth: Hospice care
is expensive.
Fact: Hospice is fully covered by Medicare
and requires little, if any, out of pocket expenses. Many
insurance companies also have a hospice benefit. A 2001
report by Milliman Co. showed that for every $1.00 spent
for hospice care, Medicare saves $1.52 in Part A & B
costs.
5. Myth: Hospice services
are only for the patient.
Fact: Hospice is family-centered care.
Hospice includes medical care for the patient and counseling
for the entire family. Bereavement services are available
to the family for 13 months after the death of the loved
one.
6. Myth: All hospice
care is the same around the country.
Fact: Hospices can be for-profit, non-profit,
hospital-based, home health-based or independent. Different
hospices have different levels of expertise, philosophies
of care and approaches to patient and family care. Hospice
of North Idaho, a non-profit hospice, directs all of its
resources to ensure that members of the community will
live as fully as possible at the end of life, sparing the
terminally ill and their families an all too common fate:
dying in pain and without access to social support or spiritual
counsel.
7. Myth: Hospice is
only available Monday-Friday, 8-5pm.
Fact: Hospice is available 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. There is always a registered
nurse on call after business hours for emergencies or
special needs.
8. Myth: Patients die
sooner with hospice care.
Fact: Hospice does not hasten or prevent death. Hospice staff specializes in managing pain and symptoms so the patient can enjoy their life with their loved ones. One study indicates that Hospice care is linked to longer patient survival. If a patient stabilizes under hospice care, the patient can be discharged.
9. Myth: Patients must
sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) prior to admission to hospice.
Fact: Although most hospice patients
choose to sign a DNR, Hospice of North Idaho does not
require it for admission.
10. Myth: It is difficult
to be referred to hospice.
Fact: Your primary physician must give
the referral. Families are welcome to contact Hospice
of North Idaho for more information. |
