Myth: Hospice is where you go when there is "nothing else to be done." |
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Hospice is the "something more" that can be done for the patient and the family when the illness cannot be cured. It is a concept based on comfort-oriented care. Referral into hospice is a movement into another mode of therapy, which may be more appropriate for terminal care. |
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| Myth: Families should be isolated from a dying patient. |
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Hospice staff believe that when family members (including children) experience the dying process in a caring environment, it helps counteract the fear of their own mortality and the mortality of their loved one. |
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| Myth: Hospice care is expensive. |
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Studies have shown hospice care to be no more costly than conventional care. Frequently it is less expensive during the last six months of life. Less high-cost technology is used, and family, friends, and volunteers provide 90% of the day-to-day patient care at home. |
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| Myth: You can't keep your own doctor if you enter hospice. |
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Hospice physicians work closely with your doctor of choice to determine a plan of care. |
