Hospice care is a concept that has existed for a very long time, longer than most people realize. The history of hospice dates back to the 11th century, when a religious order of monks set up hospitals along a pilgrimage road leading to Jerusalem. In the modern era, hospice care facilities can be found all over the United States, but sadly a number of misconceptions have arisen as to what these facilities actually do and how they work. This article will be taking a look at several misconceptions about hospice care that need to be cleared up.
- Misconception #1: Hospice Patients Aren’t Allowed to Leave: One misconception about hospice care that needs to be cleared up is the idea that hospice patients aren’t allowed to leave once they enter a hospice facility. The truth is, hospice patients are not required to stay for the rest of their lives. If a patient changes their mind and decides hospice care isn’t actually what they want or need, then they are free to leave the facility and go home or to a different facility. At no time are hospice patients forced to stay against their will.
- Misconception #2: Hospice Care Accelerates the End: Another misconception about hospice care that needs to be cleared up is the idea that hospice care somehow accelerates the end of a patient’s life. This is not only untrue, it also runs counter to how hospice care actually works. Compassionate care hospice jobs exist to provide palliative care to hospice patients, meaning they do everything possible to keep a patient pain free and comfortable. In no way does that include affecting how long a patient lives.
- Misconception #3: Hospice Patients Are Left Alone All Day: And finally, a third misconception about hospice care that needs to be cleared up is the idea that hospice patients are left alone all day. This is untrue because Compassionate Care hospice jobs are designed to take care of patients 24 hours a day and be on call at all times. Hospice patients are never left alone, there is always someone with them or close at hand.
In conclusion, there are several misconceptions about hospice services that need to be cleared up. These misconceptions include: hospice patients aren’t allowed to leave, hospice care somehow accelerates the end, and hospice patients are left alone all day. All of these misconceptions are patently untrue, as Compassionate Care hospice jobs are designed to take care of hospice patients in every way possible.