Misconceptions about Hospice

In addition to coaching caregivers, I have been a hospice social worker for 12 years.

I am passionate about educating about death and dying in America and how hospice can help.  We live in a culture that doesn’t typically handle death well. Most people have a superstition that if they talk about death it will come for us or our loved one. Not true.

I want to address three common misconceptions about hospice.

*MYTH: Hospice kills you with morphine.  Untrue – this is not allowed. Morphine is a drug that greatly eases the burden of shortness of breath. It is given in small doses under the tongue and the family is educated on how to administer it.  Hospice does nothing to speed up or slow down death.  Their number one goal is comfort, for both the patient and their family.

*MYTH: Hospice moves in with you.  Untrue – the burden of daily care is on the family or hired caregivers.  Hospice visits throughout the week to check in and is available 24/7 for emergencies.

*MYTH: You need to be bed bound and barely responsive to be on hospice. Untrue, people on hospice can look like any of us. Hospice patients can go on trips, go to church and to the grocery store. Patients can be on hospice anywhere from a day to a couple of years.  Occasionally there is a graduation from hospice – yes, you read that right!

Most doctors do not have all the facts about hospice as they are not trained in this area –  there is a reason they refer out. If you are interested or think a loved one may qualify, consult with hospice for a visit and they can give you more information on an individual basis.  For more information and/or for a free coaching session please reach out.