Myth: Hospice is only for people with cancer.
You are struggling with the realities of an end-stage illness, and you could use some help. You know a cancer patient who received excellent care from hospice, but are unsure if other types of late-stage illnesses are “eligible” for hospice care.
Yes! Only about 40% of hospice patients have cancer; the other 60% have all types of progressive diseases, including heart, lung, kidney, vascular and neurological diseases, as well as AIDS, dementia and Alzheimer’s. Patients range in age from newborns to those who are more than 100 years old.
Not everything you hear about hospice care is true.
Other biggest hospice myths
Hospice can’t even talk to you if you don’t have a referral.
Hospice can’t help you if you need “high-tech” care.
Hospice is for people who have no hope.
Hospice is for people who only have a few days to live.
Hospice is only for people who have accepted death.
Hospice is only for people with cancer.
Hospice just dopes people up until they die.
Hospice starves its patients at the end.
Once I am on hospice, I can never go off of it.