hospice misconceptions debunked

Often, the phrase ‘hospice care’ evokes feelings of fear and misconceptions about what hospice care truly entails. Many people may think that hospice care means giving up, but it’s about choosing comfort, dignity, and support. That’s just one myth about hospice care, and this blog explores some myths that people have about hospice care that are far from reality.

Hospice Means Giving Up

The most common myth that our caring staff have debunked is that hospice care means you’re giving up. This isn’t true. Hospice care is about choosing comfort and quality of life over aggressive treatments that don’t work and leave you feeling more uncomfortable.

By managing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, patients are free to focus on their relationships with their loved ones. There is still hope in hospice care, and it comes in the form of peace, comfort, and acceptance.

Hospice Care is Only for the Last Few Days of Life

While the basic requirement for hospice is a terminal diagnosis or a life expectancy of six months, no rule says the patient must wait until their final days. In fact, starting hospice care early can allow patients to benefit from all the hands-on services available to address their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

Starting your hospice journey earlier allows you to build relationships with the care team.

Hospice is Too Expensive

Cost is often at the forefront of patients’ and their loved ones’ minds. Thankfully, hospice care is covered by federally backed programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans. This coverage often includes supplies, medications for pain control, and certain equipment.

At Maxcare Hospice, we want you to feel at ease knowing that all hospice services are 100% covered by federal programs, or private insurance with no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. In addition, our social workers are here to support your family by connecting you with financial and emotional resources for added peace of mind.

Hospice Care Only Happens in a Facility

While there are hospice facilities, hospice care usually happens wherever the patient calls home, whether it’s at their private residence or an assisted living facility. For many patients, leaving their homes can be daunting, and so at-home care services can be less stressful.

The hospice care teams offer tailored care solutions in a familiar setting.

Hospice Care is Only for the Patient

Another common misconception is that hospice care is just for the patient, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. At Maxcare, we know that a terminal illness doesn’t just affect the patient but also their loved ones. Watching a loved one go through their end-of-life journey can be overwhelming and heartbreaking.

Our care and support extend to patients loved ones, even after they have passed away, through grief and bereavement services. At Maxcare, you’re never alone.

Compassionate End of Life Support at Maxcare Hospice

Since 2009, the team at Maxcare has been bringing comfort and support to our patients and their families. We believe you’re more than just a statistic and go the extra mile to ensure our patients and their loved ones are supported on this journey. To learn how we can care for you or a loved one, please contact our team at (714) 844-7777.

Becky L.

00:28 08 Jun 25

To the Maxcare Hospice TeamThere are no words deep enough to express the gratitude we hold in our heart for all that your team (doctor Thuy, anh Sơn, anh Tiến, chị Châu, and nurses….) have done for my mom and our family.From the beginning of her illness until the end, your team cared for her with such tenderness, dignity, and compassion. You saw her not just as someone who need help, but as someone who deserved to be loved, respected, and truly known. That kind of care meant the world to us.In her final days, when everything felt overwhelming and unfamiliar, you become our anchor. You offered not just medical care, but emotional support. Your gentle guidance helped us navigate the most painful moments-especially with things we never thought we had to face with, like inviting the monks to pray for our mom before and after she left. Your advice was thoughtful, practical, and given with so much heart.The beauty of orchids was sent to her ceremony such a beautiful gesture that reminded us how deeply you cared-not just for her but for our whole family. It wasn’t just professional but also personal.Thank you for being there, for showing up, for giving so much of yourselves.With all our love and gratitude!Lam’s Family

anthony P.

06:09 07 Jun 25

Nhan N.

16:43 04 Jun 25

Jemeeah A.

03:49 12 Mar 25

My volunteer experience at Maxcare Hospice is very rewarding. The staff is kind and supportive, and I am learning a lot about hospice care. It's great to see how much the team cares for the patients and their families. I feel valued and appreciated during my time here."

Loi P.

18:30 26 Feb 25

Maxcare Hospice was a true blessing during my husband’s final days at home. Their care, compassion, and kindness meant the world to us. Nurse Phong cared for him with such tenderness, ensuring he was always comfortable. Social Worker was a guiding light, offering support when we needed it most. And Nursing Supervisor Tien made sure everything was seamless, giving us peace of mind in such a difficult time.Their presence brought comfort not just to my husband but to our entire family. We never felt alone in this journey, and for that, I will always be grateful.Forever grateful for Maxcare Hospice.

Mike M.

17:21 26 Nov 24

My mother was recently under in-home hospice.All the staff who came to her home were very good,caring and professional. A big thank you to Beatrice,Kim,Erika,Phong,Minna and Larry.You folks are the best !

Anita P

22:30 19 Nov 24

After several months of steady declining health, our mother was too weak to eat anything. She was about a month away from becoming 95 years old. We contacted her doctor and an in-home hospice service named Maxcare Hospice.Within minutes, they contacted us, and we set up a meeting the next day so they could present their services in more detail. They thoroughly presented their services and examined our mom, followed with the delivery of medical devices, including an oxygen concentrator, an oxygen tank in case of power outage, a nebulizer to deliver medication through inhalation, a suction machine to clear the airway of any obstruction due to mucous, and medicine to keep our mother as comfortable as possible. They also provided us with diapers, disposable gloves, and some other basic necessities.Registered nurses, a certified nursing assistant, and a social worker stopped by to check on my mom. Every single staff member of Maxcare Hospice who talked to us either over the phone or face-to-face was polite, courteous, helpful, competent, and caring; they include Tien, Son, Kim, Emily, An, Bea, Kara, Jamie, Tracy, and Danny.Their support during one of the most difficult and saddest times of our family had made our situation much less stressful and more bearable. They strongly insisted that we should never ever hesitate to call them right away if we had any questions, important as well as trivial, any time of the day, reassuring us that there would always be someone on standby eager to advise and to help. They provided us help not only with medical issues but also with emotional issues.When my mom breathed her last a few days later, around 4:00 am, we called them, and one staff member quickly arrived to take care of the necessary paperwork. In short, the performance of Maxcare Hospice is a solid 5-star rating.

jeanchristophe T.

22:22 10 Jul 24

Matthew S.

00:28 22 May 24

Last year I had a family member that needed hospice. MaxCare’s Staff was amazing from the beginning, beginning all the way to the end. The nurses did such a great job, comforting and informing us what was going on, they were always just a phone call away. The staff also did a great job helping making arrangements at the end And we’re great at giving us direction.

PT P.

16:21 29 Apr 24

Maxcare Hospice team’s support and resources were amazing during our family’s needs. They walked us through the home hospice process and provided such valuable resources like nursing staff and spiritual advisors. Whenever they scheduled a staffer for a home visit or call, that staffer is there.. always! They always followed through on their words and commitment .Maxcare Hospice staffers were very compassionate; and they delivered a beautiful flower arrangement to our parent’s funeral services as well.Thank you Maxcare Hospice, especially Ms. Bea and Mr. Tien Nguyen!

Huong C.

05:15 04 Apr 24

Maxcare Hospice gave us the utmost care of our loved one. During this difficult time for our family, Tracy, Kara, and Phong came within a 15-20 minutes of us calling at all times. All the nurses were so kind, understanding, and helpful. The social worker, Beatrice, did all the paperwork and made the difficult process as easy as possible.I cannot praise the care of Maxcare Hospice enough for their care. Their empathy is not to be understated and really helped us during the difficult time.

Thao L.

00:51 29 Apr 23

I can't thank enough for those who took care of my grandpa and ensured his comfort. We truly appreciate your professionalism, thoughtfulness, and support for our family during the tough time!

J T

02:02 25 Apr 23

Maxcare Hispice was a wonderful experience overall. They are compassionate and understand what it is like to watch over a loved one dying.🙏🙏🙏 Thank you, Maxcare team!

Jacob D.

01:42 25 Apr 23

Maxcare hospice team provided exceptional support and guidance throughout the process for my family during this difficult time. ensuring that they were always informed and involved in the care plan. They were responsive to any concerns or questions that we had and always went above and beyond to ensure that my our loved one final days were as comfortable as possible.

Lanii P.

01:31 25 Apr 23

The care team's compassion, expertise, and dedication to providing the best possible care to my grandmother was truly outstanding. The hospice service went above and beyond to ensure that her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs were met with care and empathy.

Phuong Loan N.

06:50 20 Apr 22

I chose Maxcare Hospice at the beginning of the year as a care provider for my mother. Very good service, all the staff is friendly and helpful. They will be there when you need them. Thank you to all the nurses, social workers, and volunteers; all helpful!!!If you need help with your elders, Maxcare Hospice is the best place to choose!

David K.

00:23 13 Apr 22

My mother is in her final stages of Kidney Failure, unfortunately at a nursing home during present time but my case worker Belynn Lam went above and beyond to make sure I was emotionally stable, while respecting my space in person during these hard times. She handles everything from admissions to assigning the visiting nurses and has all of them follow up with me when whenever they see her for her Hospice Services. She seems extremely comfortable thanks to Belynn.I just wanted to leave this detailed review specifically for Belynn Lam because without her assistance I don’t know where I’d be at in all this.. she assisted me through the the process, explained the stages of care and explained all documents and fine print clearly for me to understand. I don’t feel like my Mother was being bought by the devil. Not at all, MaxCare Hospice Staff and Belynn Lam are Angels in plain sight. Thank you so much again! I’m finally able to sleep at night again.

Yena K.

00:16 09 Jan 20

Thank you all at Maxcare Hospice for making my mom's passing comfortable for her and our family. We appreciate all that you do and your services throughout have been excellent. We could not of done this without all your support. You all are truly amazing people. Thank you once again for helping my mom go in peace with comfort. She really felt safe with you all and she chose to come to the center. I think she knew it would bring all of us kids together and give us strength to get through it. She will be missed forever. We loved her so much!

Michelle D

18:39 11 Oct 19

Thank you so very much for all the kindness and compassion you had for our family! I will miss our talks about those strong Japanese mothers of ours, Ms. Bea. You are a sweet and compassionate Social Worker. Your visits always meant the world to mom and put a smile on her face. It takes special people to work in this field and take care of people during some of most painful moments of their lives...You do it with such agrace and care...and I just wanted to thank you for that from the bottom of my heart.

Long C.

21:27 12 Aug 19

My family is very grateful to Maxcare Hospice. Tien, home care nurse, came for over a month to treat my mother's pressure sores in resident living. At a difficult time she was kind and accommodating. She kept me updated following each visit and even helped us by removing stitches after mom took a fall. Staff at agency are helpful if I needed assistance. Thank you.

Madison S.

00:40 09 Jul 19

My Mom was with Maxcare Hospice from December 2018 until her death on April 2019. These people made her feel like they were part of her family. I would highly recommend them. I also want to give a big shout out to Ms. Bea and Paster Son and Iris for all the things they did and how they made my Mom smile when they came into her room. My Mom loved nurse Iris and would just light up when she came into the room. She is truly an angel sent to make your loved one feel the love. I cannot tell you how much I will miss her, Ms. Bea and Paster Son. Also I wanted to thank Maxcare Hospice for the beautiful flower they sent. It really meant a lot to me and my family. Keep up the good work... we love and appreciate everything you did..

Ky L.

00:56 22 May 19

EVERYONE AT MAXCARE HOSPICE WAS WONDERFUL. THEY WERE VERY RESPONSIVE TO MOTHER'S NEEDS. THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HER CARE. AN OUTSTANDING HOSPICE PROVIDER!

Anh C.

00:40 22 May 19

I would like to take this opportunity to thanks all the hospice team members. Ms. Khanh Dang providing me a lot of helpful information and Nurse Vy Nguyen they treat my mother with love, dignity and respect. Special thanks to Mr. Son Nguyen, chaplain for helping me go through the emotional support, spiritual relief before and several weeks after the funeral. The most touching and memorable part was singing birthday song for my mom 15 minutes before she died.

Kelli A.

19:46 11 Feb 19

I want to take this opportunity to do two things.First, to wish each and everyone of you a happy holiday season, whatever your tradition of celebration is.Second, I thank you again for the wonderful care you gave to Paul and your counsel to me every step of the way. My last hour with him was poignant and his passing peaceful, both thanks to your input. I am forever grateful.

Edward H

18:13 09 Jan 19

Our family wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for all the care & support you offered mom & us during her final months. YOur jobs are often thankless, your hours long, your patients & families demanding/difficult @times...but please know that what you all did made such a positive impact on our lives & mom's as she transitioned to heaven. We will forever be grateful for this agency & its employees! Thank you seems so small for all the amazing things you did for us!

Aubrey C.

22:06 06 Dec 18

This is a big Thank You from the Sheppard family. Your caregiving was outstanding. We will definitely recommend your services, when and if the time comes.

Angel C.

21:56 07 Sep 18

We will not forget to tell others of your love and care for mom, her family, and friends. We had read good things about you before our need, now we know how wonderful you and your team truly are. We are so grateful. Thank you. Thank you all. May god bless you richly.

Sarah C.

18:53 07 Sep 18

Our family wishes to gratefully thank you for the care you gave our father. He was much aware of the tender loving care, and the love and warmth involved with it. This gave him more peace and comfort. Hospice was an unexpected answer to our prayers. You and your organization will never be forgotten.

Angela D.

09:47 08 Feb 18

My family and I are very impressed with the extreme professionalism we’ve experienced. We met a most wonderful RN, Zeny, at the hospital. Signed the appropriate paperwork, and within 24 hours, my father was in a beautiful facility. Zeny and Miana, we commend you!

5 Myths About Hospice Care Debunked

Hospice Means Giving Up

Hospice Care is Only for the Last Few Days of Life

Hospice is Too Expensive

Hospice Care Only Happens in a Facility

Hospice Care is Only for the Patient

Compassionate End of Life Support at Maxcare Hospice

See What Our Clients Are Saying About Us!

Visit Maxcare Hospice

Navigation

Services

Areas We Service

Contact