MYTH: Hospice is where you go when there’s nothing more a doctor can do.

FACT: Hospice is designed for people with a life-limiting illness. It assists people in living their lives fully, completely, and without pain until the end of their lives.

MYTH: To be eligible for hospice, I have to be in the final days of life.

FACT: People may begin hospice care when their physician certifies they have six months or less to live, if the illness runs its normal course.

MYTH: Quality care at the end of life is very expensive.

FACT: Medicare beneficiaries pay little or nothing for hospice. Most insurance plans, HMO’s, and managed care plans cover hospice care with little or no out-of-pocket expense.

MYTH: If I choose hospice care, I have to leave my home.

FACT: We can provide hospice care wherever people may be: in their own home or a family member’s, a nursing home, or an assisted living facility. Inpatient care is an option when symptoms are too difficult to manage at home.

MYTH: Hospice care is only for cancer.

FACT: Almost 75% of hospice patients are diagnosed with conditions other than cancer.

MYTH: Families are not able to care for people with life-limiting illnesses.

FACT: We encourage family members and we help support and train them to care for their loved ones. Staff are on call to families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help family and friends provide care.

MYTH: Hospice is just for the elderly.

FACT: Hospice is for anyone facing a life-limiting illness, regardless of age. We designed Carousel Pediatric Care at Kansas City Hospice for children from before birth to young adult.

MYTH: After death, hospice care ends.

FACT: Grief support services are available to family members for thirteen months after the loss of a loved one.