Dignity Throughout the Journey: Hospice Care Fast Facts

A common misconception about hospice is it’s only for patients with cancer. In addition to cancer, hospice care is for patients with many types of life-limiting illnesses, such as: Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, congestive heart failure and other heart diseases, renal failure, severe heart attack or stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory illnesses, and blood and nutritional disorders.

In honor of National Hospice Care Month, here are six fast facts about what exactly hospice care is, who it is for, and why it is so important.

1. Hospice is a philosophy of care with a holistic approach that encompasses mind, body and spirit. It is for patients who have less than six months to live.

2. Hospice care can be provided wherever the patient calls home – not just at the hospital.

3. Palliative care and hospice care are not the same. Both provide comfort measures and symptom management. Palliative care is provided while the patient is still seeking curative treatment. Hospice care is provided when the patient is no longer seeking curative treatment.

4. Hospice care is not just about end-of-life – it encompasses the journey of each individual patient.

5. Earlier referrals to hospice have been known to extend a patient’s life.

6. Hospice care is not provided only to the patient – it benefits loved ones as well.