Dispelling hospice myths

by Terre Mirsch

Twenty years ago, when I facilitated community education programs, less than half of the people in the audience had heard of hospice.  Today, it is rare when that I find anyone in the audience who has not heard of hospice, and most feel that that they are well informed about this important benefit.

While this is good news, this awareness is often accompanied by misunderstanding.  I commonly hear “I didn’t know hospice provided those services” or more commonly, “I thought that hospice was just for people in their final moments of life”.  My response: “Yes, hospice can provide great comfort to people and their families at the very end of life; we can provide even greater support if we have the opportunity to know and care for people for many months rather than just a few weeks, days, or hours”.  Late referrals and misrepresentation of hospice in the movies or on television add to the misconceptions that prevent patients and families from choosing hospice earlier and experiencing its full benefits.