Myth	Fact
Hospice care stops after 6 months	People can be and are served longer than 6 months, based upon medical changes in condition.
Only a doctor can refer to hospice	Anyone can refer for evaluation for care
Hospice serves only the elderly	Hospice serves infants right up through the very aged
Only homebound patients can have service	No one has to be homebound to have hospice
Hospice only serves in private homes	Wherever "home" is, that's where hospice will go- home, nursing home, adult care homes, disability homes, hospital
Patients must agree to have a "DNR" (Do Not Resuscitate) paper	No. It's your choice.
Hospice will cost me a lot of money	If you have Medicare or Medicaid, you pay nothing. Most other insurers also cover hospice care, usually at no cost to you. If you have no insurance, hospice offers sliding fee and will provide service at no charge to those who are eligible. Hospice turns no one in need away.
Problems which occur "after hours" will force me to go to the hospital	Hospice has a 24 hour Registered Nurse on-call for just such problems which may occur. Most problems are managed very easily in the home setting, even after hours. If a hospitalization is needed, we're there to coordinate it as well.
Hospice means "nothing more can be done"	When cure is no longer an option, a lot remains to address comfort, symptoms and concerns. That's what hospice is trained to provide.
I have to give up my doctor	Absolutely not-hospice works closely with any physician wishing comfort care for their patients.
My family will be left out	Hospice is concerned about your loved ones and will offer them guidance, education and support
Other home care agencies do exactly what hospice does	If that were true, then complicated symptoms would be sufficiently managed at home, avoiding most hospitalizations. You wouldn't need medical testing to "qualify" for oxygen and your aide would be able to do errands as you wish. Counseling and spiritual care would be a routine part of services offered to you and your family would be followed in bereavement, if they desire, for up to a year. The reality is that home care agencies' staff have very different expertise because they are trained differently.   Hospice expertise is end-of-life care. You wouldn't go to your mechanic to get your hair cut, would you? Expertise in health care is no different than seeking out the right service for the right problem. We think that says it all.
If   we tell her (him) she's dying, she'll give up hope	People seem to already know, whether anyone" tells" them or not. It's very sad to die alone- emotionally alone- because no one around you will acknowledge it. Hope for a cure, when that's obviously false hope, can be replaced with hope for comfort and support and love. Let hospice help with the transition.
I need to name a Health Care Proxy to have hospice	It's not required, but it's a good idea for EVERYONE- ill or not. To download and complete a Health Care Proxy, go to the New York State Department of Health website at www.health.state.ny.us .   Find the section titled "site content" and click on "forms". Scroll down and click on "Health Care Proxy" form.