Many people think of the terms hospice and end of life interchangeably. Because of this vocabulary association, many people inadvertently believe that receiving hospice results in meeting the end of life. This is absolutely not the case.
Though it is true that a person must have a medical prognosis of six months or less to live before they qualify for hospice, hospice is not the causative factor in death. The patient’s terminal illness is what results in death. Hospice is simply there to support them through that transition.
Hospice Care of America put it well when they stated that, “Hospice care is not just for the final days of a terminal illness. Many patients and their families benefit from hospice services for six months or longer. Hospice allows loved ones to remain at their home or long-term care facility instead of taking multiple trips to a doctor’s office or hospital.”
Hospice can relieve tremendous physical and mental burdens weighing on the patients and their caregivers. The many services provided through hospice bring relief and higher quality of life for individuals and families because they can receive the services they need from the comforts of their own home. It’s also worth noting that a patient can receive hospice care for longer than six months as long as they continue to qualify for it. There is no limit to how long a person can receive the hospice benefit while continuing to qualify.
Here at Aspire Home Health and Hospice, we highly encourage those considering hospice not to put it off. We have hospice representatives available 24/7 to answer your questions and help you plan for your future. On top of that, hospice is covered 100% by Medicare and many other insurance agencies—the cost should be of no worry to you in providing your loved one with the care they need. Contact us today to speak with one of our senior care advocates.
