On Oct. 31, President Bush issued a proclamation recognizing the month of November as “National Hospice Month."
It states, “We honor the dedicated health care professionals and volunteers who help the terminally ill spend their final days in comfort and with dignity. Hospice care providers and other compassionate individuals are a constant reminder that the greatness of America lies in the hearts and souls of its citizens.”
Hospices nationwide served more than 1.4 million patients and families in 2007, yet myths linger, keeping many who need this care from making the call for help. Here are several commonly held misperceptions:
Hospice is for people with cancer. Anyone with a life-limiting illness can receive hospice care. Heart disease, kidney disease, COPD, and dementia are a few of the illnesses that can benefit from hospice services.
Hospice is only for people who are dying. Some patients have gotten better while in hospice care. While the illness didn’t go away, the patient was able to feel better and enjoy time with their family and friends. Quality of life at the end of life is the goal.
Only a physician can make a referral. Anyone, even the patient, can call to ask about the appropriateness of our services. Staff members will arrange to meet with the patient and family immediately to assess the situation.
Children cannot be referred. Unfortunately, children are not exempt from life-limiting illnesses and we have had children in our care. In addition, Delaware Hospice offers the New Hope Program to support children who are grieving from the loss of a loved one.
You must be in a nursing home or facility to receive services. A team consisting of a nurse, certified nursing assistant, social worker, chaplain, and volunteer, will visit and care for the patient wherever the patient lives. This can be at home, in an assisted living facility, nursing home, hospital or a hospice center.
You must be a “Do Not Resuscitate” patient while in hospice. This is the patient’s choice. A patient can certainly choose to be resuscitated.
Hospice patients get heavy doses of morphine. Hospice nurses carefully monitor the medications of each patient with his or her physician and the hospice medical director to find the optimal balance of comfort and alertness to allow patients to get the most out of every day.
It is best to wait until the last minute to call. A national study spearheaded by Brown University researchers (Science Daily, July 3, 2007) reports that “one in ten hospice patients are referred too late for services, resulting in unmet needs such as adequate pain relief or emotional support.” The goal is to make the patient comfortable and offer support to the entire family.
All hospices are not-for-profit. Delaware Hospice is the only not-for-profit hospice in Delaware and relies on reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, funds contributed through memorial contributions, individual donations, fundraising events and volunteers.
You must change to a Delaware Hospice physician. Your physician stays involved with your care, working with Delaware Hospice’s Medical Director and our nurses for your entire plan of care.
Since 1982, Delaware Hospice has provided care and support to 30,000 patients and their families. It is the largest and only licensed nonprofit hospice in Delaware with a mission to help each patient, each day, live the fullest, most comfortable life possible.
