Mom is on a downward spiral and now has pneumonia on top of her severe COPD, bedsores, broken pelvis and arm, etc. Making no sense and getting more incoherent daily probably due to the morphine and dilautin for the pain. Also on Lexapro and xanex and lots of COPD drugs.
Family awaiting OK from one more relative and then will call nurse to put her in hospice care in her nursing home facility.
Questions: (I can ask nursing home staff this, but cannot reach til tomorrow, Monday.)
1. If in hospice...Would she continue her oxygen and COPD meds? I take it that is part of keeping her comfortable without "improving her health"?
2. If she lived a few months and her $ ran out for hospice/facility care ($10,000 month) and she had to apply for Medicaid, would they still keep her in the facility with hospice while application is pending?
3. Would we receive the name of separate Hospice contact (they said this person would be with her at least 2 hours a day) to deal with at other times?
I am going to talk with various nursing home personnel today before informing everyone to start hospice.
2. I agree with FF that starting the Medicaid process now is a good idea. Better to have it in the wings and never need it than to be scrambling at the last moment.
3. My husband was on hospice care at home. I got to know the hospice people who came into our home. I was also given a phone number to call anytime I had questions, 24/7. (I used it a couple of times.)
My mother was on hospice care in a nursing home. We only interacted with the hospice staff when they happened to be there when we were, but we did get to know them somewhat. I think I was given a card with a number to call, but I don't remember using it. We had both hospice and NH staff to deal with in person.
Who is the person you are waiting on? That is, is it a second-cousin Mom hasn't seen in five years, or her brother? It is ideal if the whole family can consent, unless decision by committee delays things unduly.
My stepdaughter works in an assisted living and recently one of her residents died. The entire facility loved this guy -- jovial, cooperative, witty, friendly, etc. My dear SD sees a lot of dying in her position. This one was particularly hard on her and on other staff because the family was waiting for "one more member" to sign off on hospice, and in meantime they saw this wonderful man suffering great pain. I hope your decision isn't delayed. And what will you do if that person says No?
Best wishes to your entire family in this stressful time.
Question #2, Medicare pays for Hospice care [but will not pay for the facility]. For the facility I would suggest starting the Medicare application progress now so it will be ready to use. Hospice will bring in a floating mattress which is more comfortable then a regular mattress and it helps to reduce bed sores. Hospice will also bring in a geri-recliner only if the nurses/aides are able to move Mom from the bed to the recliner.
Question #3, Hospice usually works in a team. One day a Hospice nurse will come to get vital signs, etc., he/she will stay only a few minutes. Another day a Hospice Aide will come in to help your Mom with personal care, usually stays a hour or so. Another day a volunteer would come in to sit with your Mom and talk to her, read to her, etc. The amount of extra care could vary from one Hospice group to another.
My Mom had Hospice for three months and it was great having another set of ears/eyes watching over my Mom besides the wonderful nursing Staff at the long-term-care facility.