Myths and misunderstandings about hospice

Monday, May 4, 2009

*Brian Payne - Catholic Hospice

BLOGGER PROFILE

Common myths and misunderstandings related to hospice are that hospice is a place where people go to die or that it is a service provided for people in the last 48 hours of life. This is not true. Hospice is a way of helping people to live out the remaining time of their lives with as much comfort and dignity as possible with emphasis on the quality of life and is most effective during the final six months of life expectancy.

Hospice care is appropriate when you can no longer benefit from curative treatment and the focus shifts to alleviating pain. Hospice employs an interdisciplinary team of highly trained professionals including a physician, nurse, chaplain, social worker, nurse�s aide, dietician, bereavement counselor, trained hospice volunteers and others as needed to care for the specific needs of the patient. Hospice provides medical, psychological, and spiritual support for the terminally ill and assistance to their families.

Focused on pain management and symptom control, the care is primarily based in the home, enabling families to remain together in peace, comfort, and dignity. However, care is also provided in any residential setting such as a nursing home, assisted living facility or hospital.

A person is eligible for hospice under the Medicare Hospice Benefit once he or she is certified by a physician as having a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice is available to all terminally ill individuals and their families regardless of their age, gender, race, nationality, creed, sexual orientation, physical condition, availability of primary caregiver, or ability to pay. Hospice serves patients with any terminal life limiting condition such as cancer, end-stage cardiac disease, dementia or stroke.

Another common myth and misunderstand about hospice is that patients have to have
a Do Not Resuscitate order signed in order to get admitted into hospice. That is also not true. Patients do not need to have a Do Not Resuscitate order signed at the time of their enrollment into hospice. Hospice staff will work at whatever speed the patient and family will accept to get a Do Not Resuscitate order signed after enrollment. Hospice usually
gives patients and families time to adjust to the terminal illness and prognosis.

Find Out More

• Catholic Hospice is a not-for-profit health care organization providing end-of-life care to terminally ill patients and their families throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties.
  
• Catholic Hospice is dedicated to the preservation of the quality of life of people facing end of life issues. They provide pain control and symptom management, as well as spiritual and psychological support to over 350 patients and their bereaved families daily, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, ethnic background, handicap, diagnosis or financial resources.
  
• Catholic Hospice also sponsors programs such as the L�chaim Jewish Hospice Program, Camp Hope, a bereavement camp for children, and other bereavement support groups.
  
• For more information, go to www.catholichospice.org

Brian K. Payne