Hospice

The slow and unpredictable progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias often makes it tricky for families and even doctors to determine when to bring in hospice. Use these guidelines to decide if a loved one is a candidate for end-of-life care.

While there are many similarities between hospice and palliative care, the latter is an important part of managing symptoms in seriously ill patients at any stage in their disease progression.

The Medicare hospice benefit provides comfort care for patients who are facing the end of life. Original Medicare will cover hospice services for terminally ill seniors (and their family members) if they meet eligibility requirements.

Calling in hospice for the care of an elderly parent or other a loved one means you need to come to terms, on all levels, with the idea that this person is dying.