When you hear the word “hospice,” what do you picture? Many patients and their caretakers are surprised to discover that hospice is different from what they expected. In this post, we correct some common myths about hospice care.
- Entering hospice means being “put in a home.”
- Fact: Patients and families alike may sometimes mix up hospice with nursing homes or similar facilities. But hospice is not a specific location. “Entering” hospice means beginning hospice care, not relocating. One of the main features of hospice care is that it takes place mostly at the patient’s home. If the patient resides in a nursing home or assisted living facility, then that is where care is administered. But if they live in their own house or apartment, they receive care there.
- People go to hospice because they are giving up.
- Fact: Patients sometimes will avoid entering hospice because they feel like if they do, they are surrendering to the disease. The subjective realities of patients all differ based on their individual psychologies. But many hospice patients will tell you that when they entered hospice, they were not giving up on living. They were accepting that curative treatments were no longer helping, and that they could get the most out of their remaining time by switching to hospice care.
- Patients will not live as long if they enter hospice.
- Fact: Based on research, patients live longer on average if they enter hospice, not shorter. In fact, the study above found that mean survival time increased by 29 days. When a patient has been given a terminal diagnosis with 6 months to live, 29 days means a great deal. There are a number of reasons why survival time may increase. Reducing pain and stress, increasing mobility, and spending time with meaningful interactions and activities can all help a patient to get more time, and live better in that time.
- You cannot afford to pay for hospice.
- Fact: If you are hesitating about hospice because you think it is out of your budget, you should check again. Patients who are on Medicare have all four levels of hospice covered 100%. That means that hospice costs the patient and their family nothing. Keep in mind that a qualifying diagnosis is needed. That means a terminal diagnosis with an estimated six months to live. If Medicare is not available to you, you can use Medicaid or private insurance. Depending on your scenario, there may be additional payment options. Note that if the patient outlives the original six month estimate, hospice can be renewed. This can be done as many times as needed.
Learn More About Hospice Care in Austin, TX
If you still have questions about hospice care, or want to find out how we can help you or your loved one, please give us a call at (737) 240-3003 to schedule your hospice consultation. We are a Hospice provider in Austin, and serve customers in Bastrop, Caldwell, Harris, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties.