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Longtime caregiver looking for support and coping tips
Caregivers | Last Active: Oct 1 7:57pm | Replies (113)Comment receiving replies
I recently had someone tell me that their father qualified for hospice as his sudden unexplained weight loss triggered it along with dying of old age. I always understood you had to have a disease with only 6 months left to live in order to qualify.
Bill recently lost 20 pounds within a 3 week period. Has been in the hospital twice within the past two months, along with another fall requiring 911 help. At the moment he is receiving HH care. Which, frankly, doesn't give much help and none for caregivers.
Son-in-law was on hospice at home - which meant when he died they didn't need to do an autopsy. Also daughter got help. She doesn't think hospice would be of benefit to Bill. I'm not so sure.
The other morning she thought Bill had died in his sleep as he looked exactly like Tom when he died. Could hardly tell he was breathing (obviously he was).
I also understand that the 6 months can be rolled into another 6 months, etc.
Any insights into home hospice care? Thank you.
Replies to "I recently had someone tell me that their father qualified for hospice as his sudden unexplained..."
My sister had home health first to help with her husband. That home health nurse kept saying hospice was not needed. Her husband fell when home health was there. He couldn’t get up. Nurse did not help my sister.
My sister was so angry she changed to a different home health company. They immediately recommended hospice care in a center. He was in end stage oral pharyngeal cancer.
Another friend’s husband had dementia. He could not go into a hospice center until he met certain criteria-it was about his ability to eat, swallow, walk, etc. That was a physician’s call, but they rely on nursing to report. Both people had evaluations months before they went into hospice.
I suggest you get ahold of a few hospice places to get information from them. It is different with each patient, each state, each company. And there was a waiting list.
Wishing you strength to be your own advocate and get what you both need.
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Hi, @billchitwood From what I understand the option of hospice care can very greatly by state, insurance coverage, company, etc. In our case we had to have a prescription for hospice from my wife's physician before any of the hospice organizations would visit with us about using their services.
My wife's choice of home, rather than inpatient, hospice was a great one for her. Great care, super services, and solid folks. None of the hospice organizations here offer any type of care for the caregiver, but again that could be just what was in our town, etc.
My wife ended up in home hospice for just over 14 months.
Strength, Courage, & Peace