Time for Hospice Evaluation or is it too early?

KatieKat1

DH can still walk around the house and yard.

Cannot communicate well due to due to Primary Aggressive Aphasia.

In the past week he barely eats two bites of anything and not drinking much either.

He did use the toilet up until four days ago but goes in his depends now and does not realize it.

He sleeps okay but it takes him a while to do that.  He always gets agitated before bedtime...nothing new with that.  I think it is because he does not like to have his night bag put on his urine pouch (Urosotmy from Bladder Cancer 14 years ago).

Since he is hardly eating and drinking the Seroquel will have to be slowly removed but not sure how I will wean him off of it since he will take no pills and I have to crush them to put in his food that he does not eat now.

Does medicare and medicare supplement cover any hospice care?  Is it time for evaluation?

I am not sure if DH is just have a bad few days or if this is a sign of quick progression of this disease. 

Not sure how ill an Alzheimer patient has to be before Hospice steps in.

Thank you for any information you can share.

Tross760

Medicare will cover hospice care. If you are questioning if it is time to get an evaluation, then it is time to get one. There is no “too early” to start hospice. The extra care and support is instrumental in my belief to creating a supported environment for you and your loved one. I wish you the best and hope you find the support you need.

jfkoc

I agree however the services they offer may not be much help at this point.

Rescue mom

Hospice does not charge you, they get money from Medicare.

I’ve heard many Hospice people say they wished their patients or families had called them earlier, the Hospice could have helped more. Dementia is a little different from other diseases, but they can do a lot for both. No death timeline needed. 

They can also provide you with a lot of supplies, such as mobility aids, wheelchairs and walkers,  depends, bed pads, and other equipment. No cost to you.

You should at least call some near you and ask. They usually come and do an in-person evaluation, no cost to you. If it IS too early, they will tell you. But no harm in asking, and there is so much they can do that I had not even thought or known about.