Frequently Asked Questions and Common Misconceptions:

Hospice is about living life with hope and spending time on life's important issues and with the people you love. Patients can revoke hospice care at any time for a course of new treatment and return later, if needed. Many hospice patients continue treatment for other conditions that are not related to the terminal illness. The decision to stop any treatment is made by the patient and/or the physician and is often based on the patient's ability or desire to continue.

Hospice is available to anyone with a life limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less. Patients can remain in hospice longer than 6 months if necessary. Hospice is most effective when there is adequate time to make a full assessment of needs and build the trust that allows the patient/family to receive the full spectrum of services.

Hospice services are provided regardless of ability to pay. Medicare, Medicaid and most health insurances will cover hospice services. Grants from Sweetwater County along with donations and memorials assure no one is refused services.

Yes. Hospice becomes an extension of the physicians care by providing aggressive management of pain and other symptoms consistent with disease progression.

Hospice provides pain and symptom management that is tailored to each individual to ensure the highest quality of life possible.

Food is an important part of life. It satisfies us when we are hungry and comforts us in time of need. Starvation happens when a healthy individual does not get enough food or fluid. When terminally ill the body shuts down feelings of hunger and thirst to keep from working too hard. Hospice, with the patient and family, focuses on the quality of remaining life through education about the dying process and evaluates the benefit or harm of any intervention.