Many people mistakenly believe they know what a hospice patient should look like or that a hospice patient must be bed-bound, critically ill, and unable to continue living life to the fullest. In most cases, this couldn't be further from the truth.

While the symptoms of a life-limiting illness can have an impact on how you live your life, hospice helps patients and families make the most of their remaining days, weeks, and months. Many patients continue to enjoy some social and recreational activities and are encouraged to remain as vibrant and mobile as their physical condition will allow. Just as not all hospices are alike - neither are all hospice patients. What is the same, however, is the true definition of eligibility.

The simple answer is this: the hospice benefit is available to anyone with a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminal illness or disease runs its normal course. The patient, of course, must choose to elect hospice, and the patient's eligibility must be certified by a physician (most often the patient's personal physician in conjunction with the hospice's medical director).

Not at VistaCare Hospice. We believe there should be no barriers to high quality end-of-life care. VistaCare patients retain control of their care and are encouraged to make choices. Our patients do not have to give up current treatments, surrender the hope that they may recover, or have a full-time caregiver. There are no further conditions or restrictions, beyond the stated eligibility requirements.

Patients eligible for hospice often are diagnosed with:

• ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
• Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• Dementia
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lung disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's
• Stroke

In addition, VistaCare provides services to many patients whose health is rapidly declining, even if they do not have a specific disease diagnosis. Again, the critical factor is a prognosis of six months or less.

If you think that you, your patient, or someone you love could be eligible for hospice, you don't need to have all of the answers. Just call VistaCare and our experts will coordinate with everyone involved to determine eligibility and make any necessary arrangements.

For more information and to learn whether hospice might be the right answer for you or a loved one, visit our "Is Hospice the Answer?" page on-line or call VistaCare at 1-866-VISTACARE (847-8222).