"Hospice is a place."
In a very small percentage of cases, hospice patients receive care in a special hospital unit. But properly understood, hospice is a philosophy that affirms the value and worth of each and every life. Hospice affirms that no one should have to die alone or in pain.

"Getting admitted to hospice means the patient is giving up."
Admission to hospice care means that the patient and family have received a life expectancy diagnosis of 6 months or less. The patient is not giving up, but choosing how to live the final months, weeks, and days of life with as much comfort as possible, surrounded by loved ones and in an environment that is comfortable to the heart, mind, and spirit.

"Hospice is expensive."
Compare 30 days of hospice care (average hospice cost per month is $130 X 30 days = $3,900) to hospital intensive care ($116,000). Hospice is far less less costly.

"I don't have insurance, so hospice won't take me."
Hospices cannot turn away patients because of an inability to pay. Hospice care is available to everyone who has been given a life diagnosis of 6 months or less. Close to 90% of the costs of hospice care are covered by Medicare and Medicaid. No one needs to go into debt in order to afford hospice care.

People who work in hospice are extremely caring, very nurturing, and bond closely with the patient and family. They are driven by the compassion to see that their patients and families receive the best comfort care medical science can provide.