Hospice Care And Dementia
Hospice care was initially designed for patients with cancer or other terminal illnesses. Unlike dementia, where patients can wind up in a decline that lasts for years, patients with cancer or terminal illnesses follow relatively predictable declines – especially after stopping disease treatment or when treatments no longer work.
As a result, hospice is built on a “six-month prognosis” model that doesn’t quite fit with most mid-stage or even many late-stage dementia cases. This means we can wind up with complications that are less common for a hospice patient with aUnderstanding Hospice Care And Dementia
The first step to understanding hospice care for patients is understanding hospice eligibility criteria. These criteria are set by Medicare and include an attending physician (if they have one), and the hospice physician certifies them as terminally ill, with a medical prognosis of 6 months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course. This doesn’t mean you automatically lose hospice benefits if you don’t die in six months. In that case, the hospice physician does a reevaluation. You can renew hospice services if they feel six months is still a reasonable prognosis. We’ve had some patients who’ve been on hospice for one or more years because their diagnosis (advanced COPD, heart or lung disease, etc.) can take sudden turns or result in an acute death. However, we’ve also had patients who had to switch from hospice to palliative care because they improved so much as a result of their hospice care that their prognosis lengthened. Unfortunately, there is a large gap in the healthcare system when it comes to supporting patients with dementia – along with their partners, families, and caregivers. As a result, hospice agencies are doing all they can to provide families with the information and support they need.Dementia & Hospice Care: When To Call For Help
When spouse and family caregivers are involved, the slow but steady dementia decline can become the proverbial frog in a heating pot of water. In the beginning, the combination of family caregiving – along with professional home care support or respite care – is enough. However, there comes a point when loved ones with dementia require more care around the clock, and increasing assistance with daily hygiene tasks, which becomes more than any one household can manage. This is the time when hospice can typically step in and help to take over the increasing challenges and tasks.7 Signs it’s time to connect with hospice
Here are seven of the most common signs it’s time to reach out to local hospice agencies and learn more about what they offer and whether your loved one qualifies.- Your loved one can no longer walk, or transfer from a chair, standing, bed, etc. without support.
- They can not get dressed or undressed without assistance.
- They can’t correctly bathe or perform routine hygiene tasks.
- You’re taking them to more frequent doctor’s visits or making increasing trips to the urgent care, ER, or hospital.
- Incontinence and soiling themselves are not only the norm, but they can’t take care of the accidents without help.
- They have trouble drinking, eating, or speaking on their own. In fact, without you there, they may not eat at all.
- You are burning out.