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Hospice is there to help

FAIRMONT – It’s safe to say that many people are familiar with the word “hospice,” but also probably unaware of all of the services it can offer.

Dan Biever is a hospice liaison for Compassionate Care Hospice. He came to Friendship Village in Fairmont on Thursday afternoon to talk about myths and misconceptions people have about hospice.

Compassionate Care Hospice serves Martin County as well as 13 other counties in southwest Minnesota. The local branch is based in Worthington. There are four different hospice services in Fairmont, and it is always up to the individual which service they choose.

One thing Biever said he hears a lot is family members saying, “We wish we would have called hospice sooner.” He went on to say that most people do not take full advantage of all that hospice offers.

One myth that people hold is that you have to give up your doctor on hospice. You can actually keep your doctor, but you gain a whole other team of support. Compassionate Care Hospice, as well as other hospice services, provide a hospice doctor, an RN as well as nurse’s aids who serve as a care provider but also as a companion. Some hospice services also provide a chaplain for extra support, as well as a social worker.

Another myth Biever pointed out is that a lot of people believe hospice is just for the elderly. In reality, infants, teenagers, people in their 30s, 40s and 50s can and have all received hospice services.

Hospice is available through Medicare and Medicaid. People eligible for either are eligible for hospice too. Some private insurance also will offer hospice.

“Some people are hesitant to sign up themselves or a loved one for hospice because they think, ‘If I choose hospice, I’m giving up,’ and that’s not true,” Biever said. “Our goal is to keep people as alert as possible so they’re aware of what is going on.”

Many people believe hospice is a place you go to, but it often comes to you. People can receive hospice care while they are in the hospital, or in an assisted-living facility or nursing home, and many people receive hospice care in the comfort of their own home.

“We want people to be at peace with their journey,” Biever said. “It’s good to have a conversation as a family sooner rather than later.”

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