Hospice care is one of the most misunderstood services provided in healthcare. Many people believe that hospice care is reserved for people who are waiting to die. This isn't the case. Since most people are only exposed to hospice when facing terminal illness, it leads to many misconceptions and some misunderstandings. Here's a look at some of the things that you should know about hospice, especially if you've been diagnosed with a chronic and potentially fatal condition.
You Don't Have to Have a Specific Condition
Contrary to what some people believe, hospice care isn't just for people who have been diagnosed with cancer. In fact, if your doctor predicts that any disease or condition you have is likely to result in death in the near future, you may be eligible for hospice care. The particular illness isn't relevant to your eligibility for care.
It's Not a Sign of Giving Up
Since hospice is associated with terminal illnesses, many people hesitate to consider it because they don't want to "give up" or "give in" to an illness. Accepting hospice care doesn't mean that you're just accepting the risk of death as an inevitability. Instead, it gives you the chance to get the care you need and stay comfortable while you're battling the illness.
In fact, you don't even have to give up your treatments if you don't want to. You can work with your hospice care provider to determine what types of treatments they can offer to help you battle the symptoms of your condition.
Hospice Care is Comprehensive and Whole-Person Support
When you seek hospice care, you won't just be dealing with a nurse. You'll have access to a large variety of resources, including social workers, doctors, counselors, therapists, and other aides. This helps to ensure that you and your family have the resources you need as you deal with your illness and the long-term considerations that come with it.
You Can Even Improve When Under Hospice Care
Accepting hospice care doesn't mean that you're never going to get better. In some cases, the treatment you receive under hospice care can be enough supportive care for your body to start recovering. In fact, you may even recover enough that you'll no longer be eligible for hospice care. This can happen for patients with cancer that goes into remission while undergoing treatment as well as for some others whose condition improves during their care.
To find out about nursing homes and assisted living options, contact an organization such as Orchard Hill at Sudbury Assisted Living Community.
Share24 June 2015
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