There are many

myths or erroneous beliefs regarding hospice. The number one myth is that

hospice is a place. Hospice takes place wherever there is a need, typically

in the patient's home.

Hospice includes

medical care with a strong emphasis on pain management and symptom relief.

The emotional, social, financial and spiritual needs of patients and their

families and friends are also an integral part of the support offered

with hospice care.

Another myth

believed by many is that hospice is only for those with cancer. Roughly

20 percent of hospice patients in the United States have been diagnosed

with illnesses other than cancer, such as emphysema, Alzheimer's disease,

diabetes, kidney failure, cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases like

Lou Gehrig's disease. A growing number of patients suffer from HIV/AIDS.

Some believe

that hospice is only for those who have accepted their death. Hospice

caregivers are adept at gently helping individuals some to terms with

their death at their own speed, in their own way.

According to

Portsbridge administrator Mary Jo Wilson, "We go out of our way to

help people live until they die. We know how to help and support the patient

through the process. We empower people and give them the knowledge to

be able to make choices about their care."

A common myth

is the belief that hospice is for people who do not need a high level

of medical care. In fact, the majority of hospices are Medicare-certified

which requires that they have experienced medical and nursing personnel.

Hospice care

is not expensive as many believe. Most people who use hospice are entitled

to Medicare hospice benefits or the care is covered by private insurance.

Some hospices are 100 percent nonprofit and offer their services at no

charge, while others accept insurance and do not require a deductible.

Many, such as Portsbridge, state they will not turn a patient away even

if he or she is unable to pay.

Another popular

misconception is that hospice is only for the elderly. While the majority

of hospice patients are older, hospice is for those of all ages. In 1996

Southwest Christian Hospice in south Fulton expanded its scope of service

to include children with life-threatening diseases and those with severe

disabilities. In the spring of this year ground was broken on a new 12-bed

wing addition to be called "Hope House" which will serve the

needs of children exclusively.

Hospice is

not crisis care or crisis intervention. Hospice patients are usually referred

A team of caregivers including nurses, physicians, social workers, spiritual

advisors, counselors and volunteers works with the patient and their families

to develop individualized care plans designed to ease physical and emotional

pain.

The word "hospice"

comes from the Latin root "hospes," from which our English words,

"hospital," "hospitality," and "hotel" is

derived. The spirit of the word "hospice" is reflected in the

Latin root word that means both "host" and "guest."

The first hospice

was established in the United States in New Haven, Conn., in 1974.

Most medical

treatments needed to make a terminally ill patient physically comfortable

can be provided in the home.

There are over

2,300 hospices in the United States hospice providers are dedicated to

the notion that the end of life is one of life's stages and that it should

be lived fully and peacefully with the support of friends and family.

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