| Myth #1: |
Hospice is a place. |
| Fact: |
Hospice is a service that brings physical, emotional and spiritual care and support to wherever our patients call home. Monarch Hospice provides these services in a personal residence, nursing home, hospital or other assisted living type facility. |
| Myth #2: |
Patients have to give up their own doctor. |
| Fact: |
Patients may keep their own physician, who becomes an integral member of the hospice team. The physician will also work closely with Monarch Hospice to establish and carry out a comprehensive plan of care for the patient. |
| Myth #3: |
Hospice is only for cancer patients. |
| Fact: |
Hospice is not just for cancer patients. Also included are care to patients suffering from heart disease, kidney desease, liver disease, dementia, chronic lung disease and other life-limiting conditions, all of which are served by the Monarch Hospice team of healthcare professionals. |
| Myth #4: |
All hospices are the same. |
| Fact: |
Hospices have different levels of expertise, philosophies of care and support services. Monarch Hospice was established by hospice nurses and professionals who had an objective of improving patient care and enabling patients and their families to live life to its fullest at a most difficult time. |
| Myth #5: |
Hospice provides live-in caregivers. |
| Fact: |
The hospice team members visit patients based on individual needs, but are available 24 hours a day for support and care when necessary. Monarch Hospice is staffed and available on a 24 hour per day basis for exactly this reason. |
| Myth #6: |
Hospice care is only for the last days of life. |
| Fact: |
Unfortunately many patients wait too long to enter hospice care. The benefits of Monarch Hospice have been designed around a family-centered concept of care that should begin as soon as the decision to end curative treatment takes place. |
| Myth #7: |
Hospice is just for the patient. |
| Fact: |
Hospice care focuses on comfort, dignity and emotional support for the patient and the entire family. Quality of life for the patient and all family members is the highest priority of Monarch Hospice. |
| Myth #8: |
Only a physician can refer an individual to a hospice program. |
| Fact: |
Anyone can call Monarch Hospice to make a referral, and we then contact the primary physician to certify that hospice care is appropriate for the patient.
Information about Monarch Hospice and our services is available at any time. |
| Myth #9: |
Hospice means giving up hope. |
| Fact: |
Hospice is about living life to its fullest, even in the event of a life-limiting illness. Monarch Hospice allows the patient and family to set new goals and priorities that enhance quality of life to the highest degree possible. |
| Myth #10: |
Once you enter hospice there is no leaving it. |
| Fact: |
Patients may leave hospice care at any time. They may also be re-admitted at a later date if and when necessary. At Monarch Hospice there is always freedom of health care choices for the patient and family. |
| Myth #11: |
Families have to pay for hospice care. |
| Fact: |
Hospice care is a Medicare benefit and is also covered by most Medicaid and most private insurances. In addition, generous donations will allow Monarch Hospice to continue providing care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. |
| Myth #12: |
Bereavement is only offered to families of hospice patients. |
| Fact: |
Monarch Hospice has a community-based bereavement program that is available to anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one or close friend, regardless of whether hospice care has been utilized. |
