FALSE: Any medication directly related to the terminal illness not only is continued, but also provided by the hospice team. If additional unrelated medications are necessary, the family would obtain them as usual.

FALSE: There are no activity limitations for patients enrolled in the hospice program. Patients are encouraged to cherish all aspects of life as fully as possible.

FALSE: Each patient’s nutrition is tailored to his or her individual needs, and those under hospice care may eat and drink as much or as little as desired. Patient control and choice always are considered and are combined with the expertise of the hospice team in managing end-stage nutrition.

TRUTH: Hospice care was designed for those in their last six months of life, not just their last days. Many families could be Cherishing Life for several months of the patient’s illness by taking advantage of the physical, emotional and spiritual support that is available.

FALSE: We recognize the difficulty of coping with the last stages of life. All too often, people deny themselves (and their caregivers) the help and support of our care by thinking they are “giving up” on life. Our philosophy is to Cherish Life as much as possible. We work to manage pain and symptoms to enhance quality of life, while offering the emotional and spiritual support to provide the most peace and comfort possible.

TRUTH: Hospice is available for patients with any life-limiting illness in which the physician has determined that the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less, and comfort measures rather than curative measures are now appropriate and chosen by the patient. This could include illnesses such as emphysema, congestive heart failure or advanced Alzheimer’s disease in their final stages.

FALSE: Your primary physician can continue to direct your care and work with the hospice team. The hospice team also has a medical director who’s available to your physician for any additional medical consultation.

FALSE: While all hospices provide the same basic services, the quality of those services can vary greatly. Contact us to hear from families we’ve served.

FALSE: A person may sign out of the hospice program for a variety of reasons, such as resuming aggressive curative treatment or pursuing experimental measures. Or, if a patient shows signs of recovery and no longer meets the six-month guideline, he or she can be discharged from hospice care and return to the program if the illness progresses at a later time.