Hospice is a specialized form of care designed to support individuals who are nearing the end of life. The goal is to provide peace and comfort – but in Tulsa, Oklahoma, many people think hospice care actually speeds up the dying process.
What’s the truth?
In practical terms, only those with a terminal diagnosis and a limited life expectancy are eligible for hospice care. Patients choose hospice when they’ve exhausted all viable treatment options or when the burden of curative care outweighs the potential benefits. With no cure in sight, most people in hospice care do pass away – but services do not hasten death. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that some patients live longer than expected as a result of the extra support they receive in hospice.
Now that we’ve debunked the myth that entering hospice makes death happen sooner, let’s look at the truth behind a few more of the most commonly believed misconceptions about end-of-life care.
MYTH: Hospice Care is Only for the Final Days of Life
Contrary to popular belief, hospice care isn’t reserved for the last few days or weeks of life.
Anyone eligible can begin to receive services much earlier. Medicare, Oklahoma’s SoonerCare Medicaid program and most private insurers offer full coverage for those who:
- Have been diagnosed with a terminal or life-limiting condition
- Have a prognosis or expected survival time of six months or less
- Have decided to forgo curative treatment in favor of comfort care
With the six-month life expectancy requirement, you might think that people can only be in hospice for that amount of time. That’s not the case – if a patient happens to live longer and their doctor maintains that their prognosis hasn’t changed, hospice care services continue to be covered.
MYTH: Hospice is a Place Where People Go to Die
The idea that choosing hospice care means moving to a facility seems plausible, but it’s wrong.
When someone enters hospice, services almost always come to them – in-patient care is reserved for serious health concerns that require intensive medical supervision. Otherwise, Tulsa patients can receive support at:
- Their own house or apartment
- The home of a friend or relative
- Any nursing home in the area
- A local residential care facility
- An assisted living community
A multi-disciplinary team of care providers – including an attending physician, a registered nurse, a social worker, a chaplain and other skilled professionals – regularly visits to provide medical, emotional and spiritual care. Practical support is provided, too, both to the patient and the family.
MYTH: Hospice is for People Who Have Given Up on Life
Although hospice care is for those with life-limiting conditions, it isn’t about surrendering to death.
Living the best life possible, enjoying the comforts of home, making the most of every moment – that’s what hospice is about. Instead of focusing on the search for a cure, the focus is on:
- Effective pain management and symptom control
- Finding ways to promote comfort, dignity and quality of life
- Emotional support through the many end-of-life challenges
- Helping patients do what they want for as long as possible
By relieving suffering and enabling the terminally ill to remain at home, with loved ones nearby, hospice care helps make the final chapter of life more fulfilling and rewarding. Tulsa patients are able to enjoy their remaining time on their own terms, and they can pass away peacefully at home.
MYTH: Hospice Care Services are Too Expensive
Having skilled professionals support a patient at home sounds costly, but hospice isn’t a financial burden.
All or nearly all of the costs are typically covered – the only out-of-pocket expenses may be a small copayment for prescription drugs and perhaps up to five percent of the total for in-patient respite care. Coverage for everything else may come through:
- The Medicare hospice benefit
- SoonerCare, the Oklahoma Medicaid program
- The Veterans Administration
- The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Tricare through the Department of Defense
Most private health insurance policies and managed care plans also cover much of the costs of hospice care, and some provide full coverage. And for those who are uninsured or who have limited access to coverage, many Tulsa hospice agencies – including Suncrest – are ready to offer information on alternative sources of funding.
Do You Have Questions About Hospice Care?
Entering hospice at the right time allows terminally ill individuals to spend the last months of life in comfort, at home with loved ones. Yet many myths persist, keeping people from accessing services as soon as they become eligible. This is unfortunate – but you can ensure that no one in your family misses out on the benefits of hospice care.
If you have questions, or you’d like to know more about end-of-life care and what it entails, the friendly professionals at Suncrest Hospice of Tulsa would be happy to help. For a free, no-obligation hospice care consultation, fill out our online contact form or give our office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a call today.
