At what point do you decide to bring in hospice?

In Wisconsin, I was told my Mom would have to agree to not take any more of her prescription meds for Hospice to engage with her. Since she was on HBP meds I decided against Hospice.

Hello Friend,Hospice is so much more they are truly amazing and has so many resources.People hear hospice and automatically think of the end but it's so much more too They offer great support.

My mom’s elderly boyfriend had COPD and was in hospice for almost 2 years. Everyone was amazed he lived so long. Hospice helped both him and his mom out a lot with health care but also housework and emotional support. It was invaluable to them both. When he finally passed it was asleep in his own bed with my mom asleep beside him instead of in a hospital. Don’t view hospice as a bad thing.

It’s been a tremendous resource for us. My mother has an additional aide so we have more coverage at no additional cost. Her oxygen was covered and she had a nurse checking her vitals every week. Plus all her prescription meds are filled at no charge.

Shes in the hospital now so we cancelled it. If she ends up coming home we will start it up again.

My MIL is in "palliative care' b/c she hates the term "Hospice'--which is understandable, but the word "Hospice Home Care" is all over the van the nurse and aide drive.

She is actually in Hospice, which is a step up (or down, I guess depending on how you look at it)--she's not in imminent danger of dying right now, but she's always one fall away from that changing completely.

Have an eval done for Hospice. It's not been the death sentence we were led to believe. MIL has hung in there for going on 9 months and will almost assuredly be around for 'the holidays'.

Please don’t view hospice as giving up, rather look at it as additional help and a resource your family could benefit from using

Get a hospice eval for him. Since the hospital had suggested it, obviously there is some validity to it. If he doesn't qualify, hospice will reject him.

Most folks of his age associate Hospice with imminent death.

I would talk about "extra help" and "no more emergency rooms".

Also consider palliative care. It will allow you to refuse transport to the ER.

When I saw that ER visits and hospitalizations were doing more harm than good, we called in Palliative Care.

Dshark9
When you call Hospice tell them that your Loved One does not want to hear the word "Hospice" as he thinks that means he is dying soon.
Tell him that it is another medical service.
Tell him he does not have to pay for it.
Tell him they are going to come in and see him and see if they can provide more help.
When the Nurse and CNA come thy will not mention Hospice. Most Hospice employees drive their own vehicles so they do not have "XXXXX Hospice" written on the side.
They are used to not mentioning Hospice to patients.

You bring in Hospice as soon as the person qualifies for the Hospice Services.
In order to determine that call the Hospice of your choice and ask that they evaluate your dad.
My Husband was on Hospice for almost 3 years. I could not have taken care of him the way I did if it were not for the help of the Hospice Team.
As long as there is a "documented, continued decline" a person can remain on Hospice.
Please call. the worst that can happen is that they say he does not qualify at this time.
Ask them what would make him eligible for Hospice. Then as he declines and you see that he has reached the eligibility then you can call again.
What I would suggest is that if one Hospice thinks he is not eligible contact another and see if they assess him the same way.

Hospice doesn't mean dad is dying immediately, just that no more trips to the hospital will take place to further traumatize him. Why would you be trying to extend the life of a man with late stage AD and PD who is struggling to swallow and getting aspiration pneumonia as a result??? Hospice will keep him comfortable and allow nature to take its course.

When my mother's dementia and CHF had advanced, I prayed daily for God to take her out of her misery and make her whole again. The last thing on earth I wanted was to keep bringing her to the hospital for useless poking and prodding sessions. Her body was exhausted. When she was accepted into hospice, I rejoiced. She passed comfortably a little over 2 months later and for that I was grateful.

We all die at some point. The question is, how much suffering should a person endure before we put an end to it?

Wishing you the best of luck with all of this. It's never easy to say goodbye to a parent, but it's worse to watch them suffer.

The swallow issue is going to force this decision on your very quickly. Have you discussed this with your Dad and is he capable of discussing it with you and with family?

The options will soon be whether or not to insert an NG tube or a PEG tube for nutrition and hydration. The continuing to try for a swallow means constant bouts of aspiration pneumonia which is not an option.

If your father wishes to continue to live he will have to let you know if he wants to do the tube feedings. They will not sustain forever, but will for quite some time, but they have complications of infection and of diarrhea and bedsores.

If your father opts NOT to have placement of a tube then you are looking at Hospice care. Without supplemental tube feedings and hydration, the final exit will begin. Even small amounts of fluid will sustain an elder and this may take as long as 30 days. Without ANY hydration 7 days in somewhat more realistic and on Hospice medications will be provided. As nutrition leaves the body and as basic electrolytes (sodium, potassium and et al) leave the body there will be a time of confusion, picking at bed covers, some hallucinations and etc. The Hospice will recommend more medication at that time.

This is now a choice by your Dad or by you for your Dad. I am so sorry. I hope you will be at peace that this disease has run its course and had its inevitable effect on your Dad. He is likely very tired of this battle now, and would like peace. Only you can know that.