Question 1

Hospice is expensive.

Accepted Answer

FACT: Hospice care is paid for by Medicare, Medi-cal, and private insurance. For patients with no insurance, there is a sliding scale. Once enrolled in Hospice, all patients and families receive the same services including medications and equipment related to the terminal diagnosis and the care from a team of professionals.

Question 2

Hospice is only for the last few days or weeks.

Accepted Answer

FACT:  Hospice care is for people in the last stages of life, not just for people who are on the verge of death. To be eligible for Hospice services,  a patient must have a prognosis of six months or less to live. However, Hospice services provide more benefit to patients and families when they enroll earlier rather than in the final days or weeks of life.

Question 3

A doctor has to make a referral to hospice.

Accepted Answer

FACT:  Anyone can request a no-cost, no-obligation evaluation or information visit from Hospice, whether the patient resides in a private home or a care facility.

Question 4

Hospice is only for people with cancer.

Accepted Answer

FACT:  Hospice is no longer exclusively for cancer patients. Hospice care is available to all terminally ill people and their families, regardless of diagnosis. Some of the most common non-cancer diagnoses and life-limiting conditions are congestive heart failure, dementia, chronic lung disease, or “debility,” which is simply old age.

Question 5

Hospice patients cannot see their own doctors.

Accepted Answer

FACT: Patients receiving Hospice services may continue to be cared for by their own doctor.

Question 6

Hospice hastens death.

Accepted Answer

FACT:  Hospice does nothing to hasten a person’s death or artificially prolong their life. Studies have found that Hospice patients actually lived longer than those not receiving Hospice care.

Question 7

People only receive six months of Hospice care.

Accepted Answer

FACT:  Some people worry that if the patient lives longer than six months they will be kicked off of Hospice services. This never happens. As long as the patient’s prognosis doesn’t change and they continue to decline – however slowly – Hospice services continue. There is absolutely no penalty if a patient lives longer than the doctor’s prognosis.

Question 8

Hospice is for people who have "given up"."

Accepted Answer

FACT:  When a patient enrolls in Hospice, the goal of care is no longer a “cure,” but rather to maximize the patient’s quality of life based on their choices so that the person may live life as fully as possible for the remaining time available. Hospice does not mean giving up hope, but it can help people revise what they hope for. Hope changes from finding a cure to hope for a peaceful, comfortable death, surrounded by loved ones if they so choose.

Question 9

Hospice provides 24-hour around-the-clock care.

Accepted Answer

FACT:  Hospice care is provided during regular, intermittent visits, with a nurse available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If needed, Hospice can help the family arrange for a private-hire, around-the-clock care attendant.

Question 10

Hospice is only for the sick family member.

Accepted Answer

FACT:  The Hospice care team helps ALL family members and caregivers cope during this time of transition while providing the education they may need to best care for the patient and themselves. Hospice also offers grief support counseling before and after a loved one’s death.

Question 11

Hospice is a place, so you must leave your home to receive care."

Accepted Answer

FACT:  Most Hospice care is provided during regular visits wherever the patient calls home – in a private home, nursing or residential care facility. Twelve private rooms are available at our inpatient facility, the Ida Emmerson Hospice House, for patients who require short stays for acute care or respite care. Patients who choose to make the Hospice House their permanent home will be charged a daily rate.

Myths vs. Facts

Stay connected with Hospice.

Our 2025 Business Sponsors

Interested in becoming a business sponsor?

Our Coalition Partners