Myth: Hospice is a Place or a Facility You Move into
The TRUTH is…
Hospice is actually a specialized medical service, rather than a place. The vast majority of people receive care right in their own homes, in their favorite chair, surrounded by familiar things. At Four Seasons Hospice, we come to you, wherever you call home, providing support for your caregiver and family. If symptoms become unmanageable at home, we can provide care in our Elizabeth House inpatient facility or another contracted facility near you, but often only a temporary stay to adjust medication is needed.
Hospice Overmedicates Patients, Making Them “Out of It.”
The TRUTH is…
At Four Seasons, we discuss the patient and family’s priorities when we first meet with them and ensure they get the right medications to match their goals. Our highly trained providers specialize in symptom management and use precise doses to ensure comfort and also clarity, if that is a priority for them. Hospice isn’t about being sedated. It’s about being present for the moments that matter most.
Hospice Care Makes Death Happen Faster
The TRUTH is…
Hospice is about living. Hospice providers are experts in managing symptoms and will only prescribe the medications and doses necessary to alleviate pain or trouble breathing and help improve quality of life. In fact, research suggests that good management of pain or shortness of breath near the end of life may help some people live longer.
Calling Hospice Means You’ve Given Up
The TRUTH is…
Hospice isn’t about giving up, we never give up hope, rather we reframe what we are hoping for. Hospice is about focusing on comfort, dignity, and making every day the best it can be. It’s a shift from seeking a cure to living life to the fullest, on your own terms. At Four Seasons Hospice, we hear from many people who say they wish they’d called us sooner, believing that involving us earlier would have allowed them more quality time with their loved one. Don’t wait until the final days.
Hospice Moves in with You
The TRUTH is…
A common myth about Hospice is that a hospice nurse moves in with you, providing round-the-clock personal care.At Four Seasons Hospice, a provider, nurse, hospice aide, healthcare social worker, chaplain, music therapist, and a volunteer make visits but do not stay in your home. Your family provides the daily hands-on care, but the hospice team visit regularly to provide medical, emotional and spiritual support, treating the whole person. We provide expert training and guidance to the family and have a nurse available by phone 24/7 to answer questions, dispatch support, and ease anxiety. You are never alone on this journey.
Hospice is Only for Very Last Days of Life
The TRUTH is…
Hospice is intended to be for the last six months or even longer in some cases. It’s about providing comfort, and support so that the last months of life are spent actually living it to the best of someone’s abilities. At Four Seasons, we have families often say they wish they had called us sooner. And if they’d known hospice gives them a chance to spend quality time, with their loved one, they would have called as soon as they were eligible. One family said “we’re living again, not just waiting.” Discover the comfort, support, and quality of life that hospice brings. Don’t wait until it’s too late to start living.
Hospice is Only for Cancer Patients
The TRUTH is…
While some Hospice patients do have cancer, the majority have other life-limiting illnesses such as end-stage heart, lung, or kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. Hospice care is also not limited to a specific age range.
Once the Choice for Hospice Care is Made, You Can’t Turn Back
The TRUTH is…
You are free to leave a hospice program at any time for any reason without penalty. Re-enrollment in a hospice program is permitted as long as medical eligibility criteria is met.
Other Medical Care isn’t Available to Hospice Patients
The TRUTH is…
Our Hospice Team will provide hospice services, and hospice patients are still free to seek treatment for unrelated illnesses or conditions. For example, if someone is receiving hospice care for lung cancer has a kidney stone, they are able to receive treatment for the kidney stone through their urologist.
Hospice is Only for Older Adults
The TRUTH is…
Hospice care is available to anyone, of any age, who meets eligibility. Government regulations surrounding care for those under 18 are different than guidelines for adults and allow concurrent care that includes efforts focused on both cure and comfort. We offer pediatric palliative and hospice care through our program called Riversong.
Hospice is Unaffordable
The TRUTH is…
Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans cover hospice care, including medications, equipment, and supplies. With community support through Four Seasons Foundation, we also offer assistance for those who are in need and meet eligibility requirements.
You Must Have a DNR to Be Eligible for Hospice
The TRUTH is…
A DNR is not a legal requirement to receive hospice care.
A Doctor Must Refer You to Hospice
The TRUTH is…
Anyone—including a family member, friend, or the patient themselves—can initiate a referral. A physician’s certification of eligibility is only required once the evaluation process begins. Request Care Now >>
