Some of the most apparent advantages of hospice care include avoiding needless hospitalizations and medical procedures, receiving comprehensive, compassionate care, and having access to care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Although hospice care generally aims to provide physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual comfort to terminally ill patients and their loved ones, this care might not be the right choice for some individuals and families.

Depending on your loved one’s specific needs, hospice care might have disadvantages you should consider when deciding.

Remember that hospitalization is discouraged after your loved one enters hospice care. They may still require medical attention to treat the symptoms of their illness, though. While Medicare covers inpatient therapy (short-term hospital stays for symptom management), there are no clear admission or coverage requirements for inpatient treatment.

In addition, one of the most significant drawbacks of hospice care is late referrals. Because hospice care is only available to the terminally ill, there is a prevalent misperception that signing up for hospice implies you will die immediately. As a result, many people avoid entering hospice until the very end.

On the other hand, hospice is meant for patients with up to six months to live and can considerably enhance their lives before it ends.

Also, under the Medicare hospice benefit, a hospice gets a set amount of money daily that must cover all medical costs. This could cause some diagnostic tests and procedures to be turned down.

Lastly, you or your terminally ill loved one might be unable to try new therapies. Because clinical trials and experimental treatments are thought to lengthen people’s lives, your loved one won’t be allowed to participate.