Even though hospice serves nearly one million Americans yearly, many people have misconceptions about it. On the other hand, the facts about hospice continue to provide elder care, support, and comfort to both patients and their family members.
Patients receive emotional, spiritual, and physical assistance from hospice—several hospice facts and data back up this claim. 1.55 million Medicare beneficiaries got hospice care in 2018 alone, according to a National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) report. This is a 4% increase over the previous year.
What Exactly is Hospice?
Hospice care’s primary purpose is to make your elderly loved one as comfortable as possible. Hospice care for senior care combines pain and symptom treatment with emotional and spiritual support.
Visiting nurses reduces the need for patients to call the doctor’s office, and families can even receive assistance with basic care activities such as bathing. On-call assistance and support are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Hospice Care is Only Available in the Final Days of Life
In actuality, many people in hospice get personal care for six months or longer. To be eligible for hospice care under Medicare, seniors must have Medicare Part A and a doctor’s certification that they may not live more than six months. It is critical to understand that this is not the same as predicting that someone will die within six months.
If your older adult's condition has improved after six months, they may be discharged from hospice care and returned to a lesser level of care.
However, if patients continue to require the same care, the doctor and hospice team will re-certify that hospice services are still necessary.
And, as long as your older adult’s doctor verifies that they fit the 6-month criterion, Medicare will continue to cover hospice care.
When Someone Enters Hospice Care, They Will Die
Receiving hospice care does not imply that you have given up hope or that death is imminent. Hospice can help a patient’s medical condition and pain management.
Patients can quit hospice care anytime if their health improves and return if necessary.
Choosing Hospice Implies Foregoing All Other Medical Therapy
Hospice care is intended to increase the quality of life by effectively controlling pain and symptoms. Every situation is different, but medications that assist in managing pain and signs will generally be maintained, while severe disease treatments will be discontinued.
However, it is crucial to note that each hospice firm has its unique set of policies. Always ensure that the medications or treatments your elderly loved one requires or desires are covered by the company’s services.
Hospice Care and Palliative Care Are the Same Thing
One of the most crucial hospice facts that any patient should be aware of is that palliative care is not the same. Both palliative and hospice care reduce suffering and improve the quality of life for patients and their loved ones, while hospice care is reserved for patients with life-limiting conditions who have exhausted curative treatment options. Palliative care can begin as soon as the patient is diagnosed and may be administered concurrently with treatment.
Hospice Care Is Only Available In Facilities
Hospice care does not have to take place in a specific location. Hospice care can be provided as home care in Vancouver, a hospital, or a care facility.
Hospice Care Is Expensive
Hospice care is a Medicare/Medicaid benefit covered by many commercial insurance companies. This is one of the most common hospice care myths that patients believe, resulting in terminally ill patients not receiving the care they deserve. To be eligible for hospice care, the patient must meet the following requirements, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States:
The hospice doctor and primary care physician state that a patient is terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less.
Instead of curative treatment, the patient chooses palliative care.
The patient states that they prefer hospice care over other Medicare-covered treatments to treat a terminal illness or related problems.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs also covers hospice treatment. Veterans who satisfy matching criteria may be eligible for hospice treatment. Most Medicare and Medicaid plans cover hospice care and related drugs, supplies, and medical equipment.
The myths about hospice care show that it’s not as well-known as other end-of-life care options, even though it provides many benefits for families and their loved ones. Through increased awareness and education, we hope people will learn more about the end of life care choices, allowing them to make better decisions for a calmer passing. In the meantime, those with the end of life concerns can always turn to Comfort Keepers Vancouver.
