1. Hospice care only happens in the last days of life.

The truth is that being diagnosed with a terminal illness and having less than six months to live qualifies for hospice

2. Your doctor won’t have any say in your hospice care.

Although the hospice team has a physician, nurses, psychologists, etc., these professionals work with your physician to provide you with the best care possible.

3.  Hospice is only for the elderly.

Hospice care is open to anyone who has a terminal illness and less than six months to live.

 4. Hospice means a stop to all medical care.

No. What it does mean is that all treatments to extend life will not be pursued. However, medications for other ailments such as high blood pressure as well as pain will still be allowed. Hospice is comfort and quality of life care.

 5. Hospice care ends with death.

Hospice care includes bereavement (grief support) groups which are meant to help the surviving family members better cope with their loss.

6. Hospice is a place like a hospital.

Hospice is not a place, but a manner of care.

7. You cannot receive hospice at home.

You can receive hospice wherever you call home, whether that is your apartment, house, active senior community or in a hospital setting.

 8. You need Medicare or Medi-Cal to receive hospice.

You don’t need either of these insurances to qualify for hospice care. However, patients who have one or both of these insurances must submit a form with the hospice they’ve chosen waiving the coverage of further life extending treatments covered by Medi-Cal or Medicare in exchange for hospice care.

 9. You must be referred to hospice by your doctor.

Your doctor must certify that you have six months or less to live. However, you make the decision about hospice care, and you choose the agency.

 10.You won’t have a say about your care, once you choose hospice.

Hospice uses an integrative medical team to make sure that all your comfort needs are met. However, you or the individual named as your proxy makes all the decisions about your level of care in that environment.

 11. Hospice care is costly.

Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Long-Term Care insurance policies include coverage hospice care.

 12. Once hospice care has been set up, you cannot change your mind.

You can stop hospice care and reapply for it at any time. Again, this is your decision.

13. Hospice workers are all volunteers.

This makes it sound like hospice is not a health care team and it is. Hospice teams include a physician, nurses, social workers, psychologists, bereavement specialists, pharmacists and others who all coordinate their efforts to keep you comfortable while going through the final stages of a terminal illness.

 14. Hospice services extend only to the patient.

Hospice encompasses the needs of the entire family, and that’s precisely why it includes bereavement services. Typically, hospice will continue to offer counseling, bereavement groups, and social groups for 13 months following a patient’s death.

 15. Hospice requires a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate order).

Although many hospice patients have a DNR, it is not required.

We hope the information we have provided has helped you look at hospice a bit differently and see it for what it is, a choice after you and your doctor have determined that medical treatments are no longer useful or wanted.

A Luxe Hospice, your comfort and that of your family are our primary concern. Our team of trained medical and mental health professional work together to provide you with the comfort, support and care you desire near the end of life.

We encourage you to contact us at (310) 459-2040, info@LuxeHC.com or visit our website at Luxehospice.com. We provide hospice services throughout Southern California covering the Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Long Beach, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Newport Beach, Riverside and Santa Monica areas.