10 things hospice doesn’t tell you, shared by a Cleveland Clinic doctor

10 things hospice doesn’t tell you, shared by a Cleveland Clinic doctor 
The Healthy; by Patricia Varacallo, DO (author) with Laura Hoeksema, MD, MPH, FAAHPM (medical director for Cleveland Clinic Hospice); 3/19/25 
... Dr. Hoeksema shares key insights about hospice care and reminds patients and families that the hospice team is always available to answer questions and provide support when things feel uncertain.
What hospice does not tell you, but you should know:

1. Hospice isn’t just for people who are actively dying ...
2. Families receive support, too ...
3. Hospice care can happen in different settings ...
4. Hospice may offer more than just medical care ...
5. Hospice nurses may not be there 24/7 ...
6. Additional costs involved ...
7. Certain treatments and tests may be limited ...
8. Hospice care doesn’t speed up death ...
9. You can leave hospice if you change your mind ...
10. Hospice care may not be available everywhere ...