Hospice… What is it, really?

Article submitted by Namaste Hospice. For further information, they can be reached at 303-860-9915.

Hospice is a term that describes a specific type of symptom management care for people who will eventually die from a progressive illness. In order to help you make informed decisions and take advantage of the personalized services offered by hospice, let us correct some common misconceptions.

“A Doctor would not make a referral to hospice unless death was imminent.” While it is true that some hospice referrals are made “after all else has failed”, it is also true that consumers are demanding more choice and control regarding their health care. Therefore, a new trend toward earlier hospice access is emerging.
“Hospice means giving up.” Hospice means changing focus. The focus of hospice care is on aggressive management of the patient and family’s experience of disease, as distinct from aggressive focus on disease itself.
“Hospice patients receive large quantities of narcotic medication to control their pain. That makes them drowsy or unresponsive, and sometimes leads to addiction.” Hospice professionals are experts in comfort care. Many different methods of pain and symptom control, including relaxation techniques and massage are used. Sometimes medication is a preferred treatment. There is no evidence supporting the idea that prolonged drowsiness occurs when narcotic medication is used to control real physical pain. Addiction is also not an issue as long as real physical pain is present.
“Once a person enrolls in a hospice program they decline very quickly.” Rapid decline is always possible. However, it is more common for hospice patients to rally in response to all the care they receive. The goal of hospice is to take care of the problems that interfere with quality of life.
“Patients can only receive hospice benefits for six months or less.” There is language in all Medicare and Medicaid policies, and most private insurance policies that talks about a life expectancy of six-months or less. However, it is very uncommon for a policy to limit the number of days or months of service. There is recognition that every person progresses through disease differently. Stability is never a cause for discharge. If the underlying terminal disease process continues to be present and the patient and family continue to desire a palliative approach to treatment, they can keep their hospice benefit for as long as they need it. Hospices are not required to discharge a patient because of failure to die.
“Once somebody chooses hospice care they can never change their minds.” Freedom of choice is always a right of patients and families. This is a huge and difficult decision for many people. Hospices should encourage patients and families to continually assess their options.