#NationalHospiceWeek: Myths about hospice dispelled

May 3 marks National Hospice Week. And to observe the day, Hospice East Rand would like to clear up the common misconceptions and confusions about the role and function of the organisation.

You may have heard about a Hospice at some point or another, but do you actually know what it does?

Hospice East Rand spokesperson Jonquil Siepman explained that a Hospice is a non-profit organisation, which provides palliative care to improve the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses through the prevention and relief of suffering, the early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other psychosocial and spiritual concerns.

“Psychological and spiritual aspects are taken into account when caring for our patients as well as when providing emotional support and counselling for family members,” said Siepman.

Siepman added that the organisation affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
“We neither intend to hasten nor postpone death. There are many myths surrounding Hospice and palliative care, and with National Hospice Week, we hope to share information and dispel some of these myths.

Perpetuated myths

MYTH ONE: Hospice is for patients with cancer.
• FACT: Hospice care is provided to any patient diagnosed with any life-limiting illness, such as end-stage cardiac disease, lung disease, stroke, HIV, TB, end-stage motor neuron disease, end-stage multiple sclerosis and cancer.

MYTH TWO: Hospice is a place to send people to die with dignity.
• FACT: Hospice provides holistic care for patients suffering from life-limiting conditions and care can be provided through patient admissions at certain facilities to provide respite care and terminal care in cases where families cannot cope at home. Hospice East Rand focuses on providing palliative care in the comfort of our patients’ homes rather than in an in-patient facility.

MYTH THREE: Hospice care is only for people giving up on life.
• FACT: Hospice is not about dying. It is about helping patients and their families cope with a life-limiting illness and our aim is to help improve the quality of life of patients. We want to see our patients live their lives to the fullest as much as they can, with the time they have left. Hospice care is about compassionate care that adds life to days rather than days to life.

MYTH FOUR: Palliative care can only be provided for in a facility.
• FACT: Palliative care can be provided for wherever a patient is, whether it is at the patient’s home, clinic, old age home or frail care facility.

MYTH FIVE: Hospice care replaces a patient’s healthcare provider.
• FACT: Hospice care works hand in hand with a patient’s existing team of healthcare providers.

MYTH SIX: Hospice care is expensive.
• FACT: Hospice care is accessible to all patients with life-limiting illnesses who meet the admission criteria. Hospice care is funded through medical aids and non-medical aid patients are charged a set fee at the end of each month. Provision of our services is not dependent on the ability to pay.

MYTH SEVEN: Hospice care is only for patients with a few days or weeks to live.
• FACT: Palliative care is certainly not about dying. While we walk an end of life journey with our patients, palliative care is about improving the quality of life of our patients through pain control and symptom management whether that is physical, emotional or spiritual. It is far better to reach out for support sooner rather than later.

MYTH EIGHT: Hospice care ends with a patient’s death.
FACT: Hospice care extends beyond a patient’s death with bereavement and grief support for family members by trained hospice counsellors as needed.

For more information about Hospice East Rand’s services or how you can assist the organisation, visit www.hospiceeastrand.co.za or call them on +27 11 422 1531.

Also Read: Hospice says thanks to the community