Hospice Isn’t What You Think: 14 Common Myths About Hospice Care
Hospice care is often misunderstood. Many families hesitate to consider hospice services because of common misconceptions. However, hospice care can provide comfort, support, and dignity during a loved one’s final days or months. It focuses on improving the quality of life, not just on the end of life. Below, we will clarify common myths to help you understand what hospice really offers.
Hospice Eligibility and Enrollment
Myth #1: Hospice is only for people in their final days or hours.
Fact: Hospice is designed for patients with a prognosis of six months or less, but many benefit from longer periods. Starting early allows patients to fully utilize support and services.
Myth #2: You need a doctor’s referral to enter hospice care.
Fact: While a doctor’s certification is required for hospice coverage, anyone — including family members — can make a hospice referral.
Myth #3: Hospice patients cannot leave the program once enrolled.
Fact: Patients can graduate from hospice care at any time. If their condition improves or they choose to pursue curative treatments again, they can leave hospice and even return later if needed.
Myth #4: Hospice is only for elderly individuals or cancer patients.
Fact: Hospice care is for patients of all ages with life-limiting illnesses. While hospice originally served primarily cancer patients, today it supports individuals with various conditions like heart failure, COPD, dementia, Parkinson’s, ALS, and more.
Myth #5: You can sign up for hospice to get temporary services or equipment, and you can stop your enrollment later if you want.
Fact: Hospice is not a short-term service meant just for equipment or immediate needs. Medicare closely monitors hospice care to ensure it is provided to eligible patients for comprehensive,
continuous support, not just one-time benefits.
Hospice Services and Care Myths
Myth #6: Hospice means stopping all treatments.
Fact: While hospice shifts away from curative treatments, it does not mean stopping care altogether. Patients continue receiving treatments that manage symptoms, such as pain relief, oxygen therapy, and other necessary medications.
Myth #7: Hospice is just about pain management.
Fact: Hospice provides holistic care—addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Support includes counseling, caregiver education, and assistance with daily tasks.
Myth #8: Hospice provides 24/7 bedside care.
Fact: Hospice care offers intermittent support, with a team available 24/7 for emergencies and
symptom management.
Myth #9: Hospice care means losing control over decisions.
Fact: Patients and families remain in charge. Hospice works alongside family caregivers, offering guidance, respite care, and emotional support. Families remain actively involved in their loved one’s care.
Myth #10: Hospice care is only available in hospitals or hospice facilities.
Fact: Hospice is not a place — it’s a service. Patients can receive care wherever they call home, including private residences, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, or hospice-specific centers.
Myth #11: Hospice is expensive.
Fact: Hospice care is 100% covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, making it accessible with little to no out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients.
Myth #12: You must sign a DNR to receive hospice care.
Fact: While many hospice patients choose a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, it is not a requirement
to receive hospice services.
Common Misconceptions About Hospice’s Impact
Myth #13 Hospice speeds up the dying process.
Fact: Hospice does not hasten or prolong death. It focuses on ensuring comfort, managing symptoms, and providing emotional and spiritual support. Studies have shown that some patients live longer with hospice care than those who do not receive it.
Myth #14: Hospice care ends when the patient passes away.
Fact: Hospice offers grief support and bereavement services for families up to 13 months after a
loved one’s passing. The care doesn’t stop when life ends — it continues to help families heal.
Why Hospice Matters: The CorsoCare Approach
Hospice is about living well, even in life’s final chapter, and at CorsoCare Hospice, we make sure no one is on this journey alone. Our compassionate team provides expert care, symptom management, and emotional support, ensuring that patients and families receive the dignity and comfort they deserve.
If you have questions about hospice care, we’re here to help. Call 866-940-1075 to learn how CorsoCare Hospice can support you and your loved one.
