Keokuk County Hospice Foundation Incorporated

08/30/2026

08/14/2026

Common Hospice Myths #9:

Myth: Hospice care is expensive.

Truth: Hospice care is 100% covered by Medicare and most private insurances. Hospice care can help ease some of the financial burdens of end of life care. Hospice often costs less than hospital or nursing home care and save significant Medicare dollars.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice.

08/12/2026

Common Hospice Myths #8:

Myth: All hospices are the same.

Truth: All hospices are governed by the same State and Federal guidelines and have minimum patient visit requirements. In working with Essence of Life Hospice, all minimum standards for patient care visits far exceeds the standard.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice.

08/10/2026

Common Hospice Myths #7:

Myth: Hospice is only for those that can accept their terminal illness.

Truth: Hospice is there to help the patient and family come to terms with their illness at their own speed. Hospice is there to answer questions from patients and families who are unsure about their options and preferences.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice.

08/08/2026

Common Hospice Myths #6:

Myth: Hospice care ends with the patient’s death.

Truth: Hospice provides grief support and bereavement services to the family and caregivers for a minimum of 13 months after the death of the patient. Hospice also offers memorial services annually as an opportunity for families to remember their loved one.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice.

08/05/2026

Common Hospice Myths #5:

Myth: Hospice is only for those close to death.

Truth: Hospice care works best when the care team has time to deliver it. The sooner patients and families choose hospice care, the sooner they can benefit from the support, information and medical care that hospice has to offer.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice

08/03/2026

Common Hospice Myths #4:

Myth: Hospice is only for cancer patients.

Truth: Only about 51% of hospice patients have a cancer diagnosis. Some of the most common non-cancer diagnoses are heart disease, dementia, lung disease, kidney disease and general physical decline.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice.

08/01/2026

Common Hospice Myths #3:

Myth: Nursing home patients don’t benefit from hospice care.

Truth: Hospice services for nursing home patients are provided in addition to the care they are already receiving from the nursing home staff. Hospice staff are also available to assist with issues that family members may be having. Bereavement services are available to the family and facility staff after the death of the patient.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice

07/30/2026

Common Hospice Myths #2:

Myth: Hospice patients must sign a DNR (do not resuscitate).

Truth: A Do not Resuscitate (DNR) order is NOT a requirement to receive hospice care. While many patients on hospice do elect to have a DNR in place, it may not be the right choice for everyone. The goal of hospice is patient comfort and no decision should ever be forced upon a patient.

Information credit Essence of Life Hospice