Slowly but surely, more Americans are beginning to embrace hospice care. About 1.55 million
Americans accessed hospice care in 2018, a figure that represents a notable increase from the
previous years. However, compared to the number of Americans with chronic and terminal illnesses,
the hospice care system remains grossly underutilized.
There are a few reasons why people decline to use hospice care, and almost all those reasons stem
from misconceptions and misinformation about what this care system is really about. In this article,
we will be addressing seven common myths and misconceptions about hospice care and revealing
the facts and truths.
MYTH NUMBER 1: HOSPICE CARE CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED AT A HOSPITAL OR FACILITY
MYTH NUMBER 2: HOSPICE CARE AIMS TO HASTEN DEATH
MYTH NUMBER 3: ONLY CANCER PATIENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM HOSPICE SERVICES
MYTH NUMBER 4: HOSPICE CARE IS ONLY FOR THE ELDERLY
MYTH NUMBER 5: HOSPICE CARE TAKES CONTROL OF CARE AWAY FROM THE PATIENT AND THEIR LOVED ONES
MYTH NUMBER 6: HOSPICE CARE IS ONLY FOR THE RICH
MYTH NUMBER 7: HOSPICE CARE AND PALLIATIVE CARE ARE THE SAME
FACT: Although both care programs aim to provide comfort to the seriously ill, there are differences
in the approach. Palliative care offers curative treatment and often begins at diagnosis. On the other
hand, hospice care is provided to patients who have six months or less to live and do not want to
bother with treatment aimed at curing.
For further clarifications about what hospice care is and how to get the most from it, feel free to contact us at Hillside Hospice. We are a Medicare-certified hospice agency determined to improve the quality of life in people in need of end-of-life care.
