HOSPICE—WHAT KIND OF thoughts and feelings does this word evoke? Fear? Pain? Loneliness? Death?
The word hospice comes from the Latin word “hospitum,” which means hospitality, a place of rest and protection. The word was initially utilized to describe a place provided for ill and weary travelers.
Modern day hospice is a little different; however, the meaning is still the same. The primary goal of hospice is to help you live a restful, safe life until the end. Hospice is not a place, but rather a philosophy that provides support, comfort, and dignity in order to meet this goal. One does not need to have a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) status in order to begin receiving services.
A common misconception about hospice is that one has to be actively dying in order to qualify. As a benefit of Medicare, one is eligible for these services “with a diagnosis that could cause a person to pass away within six months or less.” This does not mean that a patient will pass within this time frame. In fact, some patients are discharged from hospice services because they improve. Others are on hospice longer than six months.
Another misconception is that hospice services are expensive. Hospice is a Medicare benefit, which means not only that services are covered, but also any medications and medical equipment needed to help maintain safety and comfort. Generally, treatment such as antibiotics for an infection are also covered under the hospice benefit.
Hospice is not an “all-or-nothing” service. This means that each person is different and each journey is different. Because of this, hospice services are determined by what “quality of life” means to each individual.
Care 360 Hospice is a unique hospice provider that has been in the community for more than a year. From our location in Maumee, Ohio, we serve Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Henry, Defiance, Ottawa, Seneca, Hancock, Sandusky, and Erie counties. Visit our website at Care360Hospice.com or call us at 419-913-7342 to learn more. ✲
