Hospice Care:
There are a large number of misconceptions surrounding hospice care. Many people think that hospices are scary and depressing buildings where people go to die, and that accessing hospice care means giving up hope. In fact, the reality of hospice care is very different. Here we help to dispel some of the most common myths about hospice care:
Myth: Hospice is a place Fact: Hospice is not just a place, building or institution – it is a philosophy. Hospice care focuses on providing medical and nursing support, as well as emotional and spiritual assistance, to families who are affected by incurable illness. This type of care is predominantly provided in the comfort of an individual’s home, but can be provided in any environment in which a person lives, including a nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care facility. Some hospices, including Compton Hospice, do have dedicated buildings where both inpatient and outpatient care can be delivered, however the majority of patients are cared for in the community.
Myth: Accepting hospice care means giving up hope Fact: Accessing hospice care does not mean a person should give up hope. Accessing hospice care means a person wants to have the best quality of life for as long as he / she is able. Receiving treatment to ease pain or distress allows the patient the opportunity to focus on the things that mean the most to them in life – whether that is spending cherished time with family and friends, accomplishing goals and life-long ambitions, or just generally enjoying life. Choosing hospice doesn’t mean giving up on life, it means choosing to live life to the fullest.
Myth: Hospice care makes death come sooner Fact: A hospice programme can do nothing to either speed up or slow down the dying process.
Myth: Hospice is for the last few days of life Fact: Hospice care can be accessed at any point from when a person’s illness becomes terminal and for as long as that person needs - whether its days, weeks, months or sometimes even years.
Myth: Hospice care is only for cancer patients Fact: Hospice care is for all terminally ill patients in the end-stage of any disease, including, but not limited to cancer, lung disease (emphysema, fibrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), etc.), renal failure, heart disease, neurological disease (Motor Neurone Disease, Alzheimer’s) and AIDS.
Myth: Hospice care is only for older people Fact: Hospice care is available to anyone over the age of 18 years who has had a diagnosis of a non-curable illness.
Myth: Hospice care is only for the person who is ill Fact: Hospice care is for all the family, not just the patient. Hospices provide a range of services and support for carers, family members and close friends, both during a person’s illness and during bereavement.
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www.compton-hospice.org.uk
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