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What's your hospice IQ?

by Pam Eimers and Judy Alexander

We may think we understand how hospice works, but when the time comes to actually make the decision about enrolling a family member in hospice care, many new questions arise. Suddenly, facing the reality that life is coming to an end, we realize there are nuances that before didn't even register in our consciousness.

When that time comes a team from hospice meets with the family to explain in detail what they can expect from hospice and to answer all the questions the family may have.

Take this short True or False quiz to learn something new about hospice care.

  1. Most Americans say they wish to die at home rather than in a hospital.
  2. Hospice care is for older people and cancer patients only.
  3. Hospice care requires that you stop all medical treatment.
  4. A patient's personal physician must refer him or her to hospice.
  5. Residents of nursing homes and other care facilities do not qualify for hospice care.
  6. Hospice nurses are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
  7. Hospice care is expensive.
  8. A hospice patient may choose to leave hospice and seek aggressive medical treatment.
  9. Hospice is a religious organization that provides religious guidance to patients and families.
  10. Hospice is called only when it's apparent the person is near death.

And the answer is…

1. True. In a survey conducted by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association, 90% of adults said they would like to die at home, yet only about 25% do. Hospice provides care and support to those choosing to remain at home.

2. False. Hospice provides care to people of all ages and with any life-limiting illness.

3. False. Hospice care means managing symptoms and relieving pain rather than continuing aggressive treatment for an illness. One may, however, still receive curative care for other illnesses unrelated to the terminal diagnosis. As an example, a patient in the end stages of heart disease may still receive aggressive treatment for diabetes.

4. True. Anybody can initiate a referral to hospice but the patient's physician must ultimately certify that the patient qualifies for hospice. If a family member initiates the referral, Yolo Hospice will contact the physician on their behalf.

5. False. "Home" is wherever a person lives. Yolo Hospice works with many facilities in Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties to provide hospice care to residents and provides end-of-life education to their staffs.

6. True. Anything that feels like a crisis to a family is considered an emergency to us and we will respond.

7. False. Medicare, MediCal, HMOs and private medical insurers all cover hospice care. Medicare, MediCal and some other insurers pass no costs on to the patient. For those without coverage, Yolo Hospice donates care.

8. True. Patients may opt out of hospice at any time for any reason. If a patient's condition improves, or the illness seems to be in remission, he or she may be discharged from hospice, but may return in the future.

9. False. While some hospices are associated with faith-based hospitals, hospice itself is not affiliated with any religious group and does not require patients to adhere to any set of beliefs. Because hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain can be just as real as physical pain, hospice provides spiritual counselors to meet with patients if they wish.

10. False. Hospice provides end-of-life care to people in the final six months of life. Some people are very active until the last few days. Hospice's goal is to help patients live as fully as possible through this final phase.

If you would like to learn more, please call Yolo Hospice at 758-5566 and ask that a packet of information be mailed to you, or visit our website at www.yolohospice.org.

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Quotes

Judy Norton
"Coping with terminal illness is all consuming for patient and family. As a hospice nurse, I feel it is most important to advocate, respect and use the knowledge we have to make the end of life the most comfortable it can be while always keeping in mind the unique needs of each patient."
~Jody Norton, RN