Guest guest Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 : Thank you for your response. Did they say why your Dad went so fast? Did he get an infection? Re: Hospice My Dad's Dr. suggested hospice in mid-October and my Mom was floored. He did a little backpedaling for her to help her cope, but I could read between the lines. Dad was down to 128 pounds from being over 170 or 180 most of my life and the Dr. said that the weight loss qualified him, mostly to help Mom deal with this new idea. Anyway I spoke privately with the doc in the hall later and he DID say he did not expect Dad to be around in 6 months. I still thought he would last until Thanksgiving and most likely Christmas, but he died on November 4th - after having some very good days up until the end almost as I just posted a minute ago. You just can't tell what the journey may hold, but the hospice was a huge help in our case as Dad was still at home but was becoming more than Mom could handle. I was very concerned that she would get pulled down with him, in both the physical sense and also emotionally. I just can't say enough good things about hospice....best wis hes for the smoothest " journey " possible through all this. > > > When will you know it is time for Hospice? The assisted living director talked with me about it the other day. She said not to think of this as a " death notice " , but as some comfort measures. I guess it would be more palliative care than actual hospice. > > The doctor told us Friday, that within a year if not sooner, she would probably be bed ridden and not know us. On one of her bad days I can see this, but then on a good day I don't and think she may out live us all. Her oxygen level at the doctor's office was in the 70s and she refuses to use oxygen at home. I know this can't be good for her organs and it increases her confusion. > > Any opinions about Hospice? > > Thanks > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 I can't speak for hospice with dementia but I do have experience with it with my mother who died of ovarian cancer. I feel her doctor referred her to hospice way too late - about two weeks before she died. We all really could have used the help and support of hospice much sooner. They not only help the patient but are of great comfort to the family. My mother was at home at the time. I called them at all hours of the day and night with questions. They called around at local pharmacies and found one that had the drug they suggested and called it in for me. In my experience, it is better to go with it earlier than later. Toni > > > When will you know it is time for Hospice? The assisted living director talked with me about it the other day. She said not to think of this as a " death notice " , but as some comfort measures. I guess it would be more palliative care than actual hospice. > > The doctor told us Friday, that within a year if not sooner, she would probably be bed ridden and not know us. On one of her bad days I can see this, but then on a good day I don't and think she may out live us all. Her oxygen level at the doctor's office was in the 70s and she refuses to use oxygen at home. I know this can't be good for her organs and it increases her confusion. > > Any opinions about Hospice? > > Thanks > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 My father is in an assisted living residence but receiving full care; a couple of months ago the residence asked us to bring in hospice. They in turn have provided many services we didn't have before - a lift chair, more frequent visitors, a speech therapist to evaluate his swallowing, and more. They're even bringing him a couple of insulated cups with built-in straws because he seems to drink better with those.The team sat down with my father initially and he had two questions: one, do I have to move, and two, am I dying. When they were able to answer no to both questions, he agreed to hospice and was actually quite thrilled with the extra attention. He's declining daily, and has started refusing to eat some meals (unless it's fried chicken!) Anyway, years ago we had a nightmare experience with hospice when my mother was dying, but I have nothing but praise for this different group working with my dad. Ellen in OH ________________________________ To: lbdcaregivers Sent: Fri, March 4, 2011 11:09:33 AM Subject: Hospice  When will you know it is time for Hospice? The assisted living director talked with me about it the other day. She said not to think of this as a " death notice " , but as some comfort measures. I guess it would be more palliative care than actual hospice. The doctor told us Friday, that within a year if not sooner, she would probably be bed ridden and not know us. On one of her bad days I can see this, but then on a good day I don't and think she may out live us all. Her oxygen level at the doctor's office was in the 70s and she refuses to use oxygen at home. I know this can't be good for her organs and it increases her confusion. Any opinions about Hospice? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yes, if someone is not continuing to decline, then the agency is supposed to take the patient off of hospice. You will have to hire aides. > > Mom has been on Hospice for just over a year. Yesterday the Social Worker called and told us they are dropping her November 1. Now what are we to do? Can they do that? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 > Mom has been on Hospice for just over a year. Yesterday the Social Worker > called and told us they are dropping her November 1. Now what are we to do? > Can they do that? > Yes they can, and, unfortunately, under the rules for Medicare reimbursement, they are probably required to drop her unless there's an obvious and recent decline. I went through the same thing a bit over year ago with my Dad, and I was completely terrified. We had a very caring hospice group and they didn't want to decertify Dad, but if they weren't going to be paid .... Both the regular nurse and the doctor we worked with told me very carefully that I should call them if anything changed. Carefully, because they doubted my ability to absorb information while trying to imagine how I would deal with his next health problem. Dad was by then unable to communicate at all and unable or unwilling to assist in standing, walking, etc. About four months later he had a seizure, from which he recovered on his own after a few minutes. He was recertified for hospice that afternoon. Any health problem your mother develops will probably allow hospice to recertify her. Best regards, Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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