Hospice care is commonly misunderstood by people who don’t understand how hospice care can save lives. The truth is, that hospice care is not a place where people go when they have given up. But, all too often, this is what many people believe. There are many misconceptions about hospice care, and it’s important that Americans understand that hospice care is an effective way to treat advanced illnesses. Fear of enrolling in hospice care causes people to wait until it’s too late to seek effective treatment.
Hospice Care is for Patients with No Options
Physicians who work in hospice care are experts in pain control. They are experts in relieving symptoms for their patients, and they can help make life more enjoyable and pain-free. The hospice team consists of several professionals who work tirelessly to support the needs of their patients and improve quality of life.
Hospice Care is only for People Who Have Cancer
People who have cancer are often able to take advantage of hospice care, but it’s also for people who want to improve the quality of their life while still maintaining their independence. People who have Alzheimer’s, end-stage chronic diseases, leukemia and other issues can benefit from hospice care. It’s important to choose a provider who can treat specific symptoms that you’re suffering from.
Hospice Care is Only Available for People in the Last Six Months
Most insurance plans, including Medicare, limit hospice care to people who have been told they only have six months left to live. However, many patients outlive the six month limit, and they are allowed to continue receiving hospice care. People who get hospice care can often live longer because of the excellent care received.
Hospice Care Only Occurs in Facilities
Hospice care often occurs as an in-patient service, but it’s more of a concept of care. It’s not necessarily a requirement that hospice care occur in a facility. The best results tend to come from people who visit a facility like Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care, but this is not a requirement.
Hospice Care is too Expensive
Many people mistakenly believe that hospice care is unaffordable. This isn’t true, especially for people who have Medicare. Many private insurance plans also cover hospice care at an extremely affordable rate. Patients may even find that they don’t have to pay at all for services.
Hospice care improves the quality of life of patients. It’s designed to provide intensive service to help patients live as long as possible. It can also help to ease the pain of the sufferer, and to make their last months and years fulfilling. The bottom line is that hospice care is designed to make cancer less painful and intense as much as possible for those lives that have been numbered by the disease. It also provides comfort to their loved ones by helping them prepare for the worst and deal with their own grief. If you have a loved one that is suffering from cancer or are going through cancer yourself, then it may be time to get into a hospice care facility so that you don’t have to fight this terrible disease alone.
