Myth #1: Hospice is a place.Fact: Hospice is not a place but rather, a philosophy of care, Dr. Payne said. Hospice comes to you wherever you call home, surrounding you and your caregivers with the support you need at the end of life.Myth #2: Hospice is giving up.Fact: Hospice is not giving up, Dr. Payne said. It is enhanced care at the end of life, to maximize quality of life at the end of life.Myth #3: Hospice is only for those who are actively dying.Fact: Hospice is for any person with chronic illness whose life expectancy is six months or less, Dr. Payne said. The true benefit of electing hospice care is seen when hospice is brought in sooner rather than later.Myth #4: Can patients actually improve?Fact: This one is actually true! To remain on hospice, a patient needs to have a life expectancy of six months or less should the disease process run its normal course, Dr. Payne said. Many times, we see hospice care come into a patients life and wrap their arms around a patient and family, getting them the right care at the right time, and the patient actually improves. The disease process may still be there, but perhaps the patient has learned to manage it differently, they no whave the resources they need. Some patients do not continue to decline but rather, improve.Big takeawayHospice care is generally an appropriate option for those who are terminally ill with approximately six months or less to live. While there are generally some misconceptions about hospice care, first and foremost, it is about maximizing a patients quality of life at the end of life. In addition, hospice care can provide support, resources and information to you and your family during this difficult time, including bereavement counseling.Should the patient continue to decline, they have everything they need to do this with comfort and dignity on hospice care. Should the patient improve, they can either choose to revoke their hospice benefit or the hospice may say the patient no longer qualifies for hospice care and they graduate. 'Editors Note: This article was submitted by Banner Health. They can be reached at 970-400-9728.

Unsure if your relative is in need of Alzheimer's care? As we age, many of us have an understandable fear of memory loss and whether it is a sign of Alzheimer's disease a progressive and fatal brain disease. Memory loss is commonly thought of as a normal part of aging. However, serious memory loss may be a sign of another medical problem. These can include:InfectionVitamin deficiencyIssues with the thyroid glandAn emotional problemStrokeDementia.Dementia is a general term for memory loss. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. Signs of Alzheimer's Disease The Alzheimer's Association provides this list of 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's contrasted with typical changes related to age. Memory loss that disrupts daily life especially forgetting recently learned information. A typical age-related change: Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.Challenges in planning or solving problems such as losing track of monthly bills. A typical age-related change: Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or leisure such as forgetting the rules to a game. A typical age-related change: Occasionally needing help to use settings on a microwave or to record a television program.Confusing with time or place sometimes forgetting how they got to a certain location. A typical age-related change: Getting confused about the day or date but figuring it out later.Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships including judging distance. A typical age-related change: Vision changes related to cataracts.Problems with words in speaking or writing or calling things by the wrong name. A typical age-related change: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps, which can get frequent over time. A typical age-related change: Misplacing things now and then like glasses or the remote control.Decreased poor judgment such as giving excessive money away to telemarketers or paying less attention to personal hygiene. A typical age-related change: Making a bad decision once in a while.Withdrawal from work or social activities. A typical age-related change: Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.Changes in mood and personality. A typical age-related change: Developing specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when routine is disrupted.People with memory loss should receive a thorough examination from a physician including a careful review of the persons clinical history, a physical and neurological evaluation, a review of medications and cognitive testing. An appropriate treatment plan can be made once a diagnosis is determined.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Gene Haffner of Banner Health . He may be reached at 970-350-6133 or for more information visit Banner Healths website at www.bannerhealth.com