As a Hospice nurse, I am shocked to hear from patients and families who say that they had no idea what Hospice was until their doctor wrote an order for a consultation. Sometimes, they still don’t exactly know what we are there for when we arrive. While, “What is Hospice” is a loaded question with a wide array of answers, I’ll do my best to give you a brief overview here of exactly what Hospice is.
The quick answer is that Hospice is an optional healthcare service. It is very similar in fact, to home healthcare services, but can be elected for those in facilities and hospitals as well as those who wish to remain at home. There is one primary difference between Hospice care and Home Healthcare, and that difference lies in the Plan of Care. Home healthcare is designed as a temporary service to assist patients in healing, whereas Hospice care is designed as a service to assist patients in meeting their own personal and healthcare goals during the final season of their life. It’s the difference between invasive care and care focused on the comfort of the patient.
The philosophy behind Hospice care is that patients have a right to choose a life free from invasive treatments and exhausting and unrelenting appointments and medications, and can instead choose to take a more gentle approach to caring for their body while focusing on living their lives in whichever way they choose. While patients still receive quality healthcare and medications, they do so from the comfort of their home and without the pain and suffering that often accompanies the endless barrage of medical treatments that can be carried out during this season of life.. Medications, wound care, vital signs monitoring, symptom management, personal care, spiritual care and social services are all provided at the patient’s home, and on a schedule that is agreed upon by them. The real beauty is that for patients on Medicare (and many other insurances), this service is often 100% FREE of charge*.
There are many misconceptions about Hospice care floating around, and a very important part of understanding what Hospice IS, is understanding what Hospice IS NOT. For instance, Hospice is NOT a last resort. In fact, many patients who receive Hospice services, do so for months or even years. Hospice is NOT an assisted suicide service and will not end a patient’s life. Hospice is NOT only for cancer patients. Hospice is NOT a final, irreversible decision. Hospice is NOT only for people who have a DNR order, and most importantly Hospice is NOT an indication that a patient has “given up.” These ideas are what keeps so many from opting for a service that can impact their life in tremendous and beautiful ways.
Hospice care is often the difference between suffering through the last days, weeks, months of your life and enjoying those days with freedom. If you qualify (find out how, here), take some time to consider if Hospice is an option that would work for your life (see article, “Is Hospice Right for Me?“), then be sure to call at least 2-3 different Hospice providers and request an informational session to choose which Hospice is most in line with your goals.
*Hospice is a 100% covered benefit through Medicare, but all services must be reviewed for appropriateness. Any needs outside of the plan of care are subject to billing. Be sure to discuss billing with your Hospice provider.
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