Hospice Care Myths & Facts

Dispelling Myths about Hospice and Sharing the Facts.

Myth: Hospice is only for cancer patients.

Fact: Hospice is appropriate for any patient with an end-stage illness, including: Cancer, Dementia, Congestive Hearth Failure, Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and many other life-limiting conditions.

Myth: Hospice just gives patients pain medication.

Fact: Hospice assists with meeting a goal or achieving comfort in a variety of ways and involves an agreed upon plan of care, in which many therapies or modalities may be used.

Myth: Hospice is for people who are imminently dying.

Fact: Hospice is for patients who have a prognosis of six months or less, if the disease runs its normal course. Patients and families often report that they wish they had involved Gallagher Hospice sooner. Patients and families can receive hospice care for six months or longer.