Questions about hospice

Elshack

My DH has Crohns Disease and Alzheimer's and soon will be 92. He can feed himself, make his own coffee but lately has filled up his Depends, flooded the bathroom because he used too much toilet paper and the toilet overflowed. He loves his sugar and often does not want to eat a healthy meal. He is not on a walker but does very little walking around the apartment.

If I called Hospice and asked for an evaulation, do they have to be in contact with his neurologist? I give him a shower but I wonder if Hospice would pay for all the Depends he goes through? I know there are places that would come in to give him a shower but I don't want to pay people to do that if I can still do that. 

jmlarue

Hopefully, your DH has a primary care doctor who knows about ALL his conditions, including the Alzheimers. If so, the primary can make the referral for hospice. Once accepted into hospice, they can provide help with meds, caregivers to give you some respite, they can change the bed, help with his personal care (including sponge baths), there's a social worker and a chaplain. Hospice can be in your home or in a long term care facility. Personally, I'd ask for placement in a facility given his incontinence issue due to Crohn's. Hospice does take care of ordering medical equipment and supplies like Depends. Hospice is covered by Medicare.

jfkoc

You can call yourself. I suggest interviewing several including any your Dr has used.