What is a hospice?
|
We believe that a residential hospice is the most special home in the community.
Hospice/palliative care aims to relieve suffering and to improve the quality of living and dying.
This specialized care supports people diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and their families, while living with the illness during the time of dying and death and for the bereavement period. |
|
|
Myths & Facts About Hospice Care
|
Related Links |
|
Myth: Hospice is where you go when there is "nothing else to be done."
Reality: Hospice is the "something more" that can be done for the patient and the family when the illness cannot be cured. It is a concept based on comfort-oriented care. Referral into hospice is a movement into another mode of therapy, which may be more appropriate for terminal care.
Myth: Hospice care is more expensive.
Reality: Studies have shown hospice care to be no more costly. Frequently it is less expensive than conventional care during the last six months of life. Less high-cost technology is used, and family, friends, and volunteers provide 90% of the day-to-day patient care at home.
Myth: You can’t keep your own doctor if you enter hospice.
Reality: Hospice staff work closely with your family doctor to determine a plan of care.
Myth: Dying people do not want to talk about it.
What Dying People Want
- Excellent symptom management, die in comfort
- Avoiding inappropriate prolonging of dying
- Achieving a sense of control-choices, resident is in charge
- Relieving the burden on loved ones
- Strengthening relationships
|
The Canadian Virtual Hospice www.virtualhospice.ca Hospice Association of Ontario www.hospicelifeline.com The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association www.chpca.net |
