Hospice nurse says hubby may graduate soon

numb

she told me yesterday and I've been up all night worrying. He is skin and bones, bed bound for months.  they say he has numerous TIAs, some days he eats alittle others not at all. Uses a nebulizer now and medication for secretions.  I have to feed him , he is totally incontinent now.  He has "episodes" where he hallucinates horribly for days. Have had him on strong meds when needed the past months including haldol, morphine etc 

The hospice nurses have been amazing.  Now I wonder WTH do I do if he no longer gets their care?   They mention maybe a nursing home but no we want him to be home until he passes. 

The local agencies that offer aides are understaffed and the ones we had pre hospice were horrible.   If they showed up they were on their phones or I had to sit and tell them to please bath him etc .

Already stressed enough now my anxiety through the roof. 

LaurenB

Good morning Numb-  could you elaborate on why the hospice isn't renewing his status?  Do they feel that he is no longer qualifying?  What does his doctor have to say about his hospice status?

dayn2nite2

Are they really taking him off hospice or is the graduation they’re talking about a nice way of saying he’s dying?

Clearly there needs to be some clarification.  I hate a word like “graduate” in relation to hospice.  They should say what they mean.

numb

Graduating means he no longer qualifies for hospice as per medicare guidelines.    I don't get it a few times they told me to call the kids to come it could be time and he bounces back. But he has NOT improved at all he can do ZERO on his own.   I don't get it.

Ed1937

Numb, if they want to take him off of hospice, call another hospice service. You don't need a doctor to call. You can do it yourself, and different hospice services might have different guidelines. Another one might accept him.

numb

Thank you. the only problem is this is the only one that services the area we live in. : (

JJAz

"Graduating" a patient from Hospice is not uncommon with some Hospice companies.  They are reviewed by Medicare based on their average length of service.  This usually occurs when hospice admits patients too early, but the people who get punished are those who live "too long."  You are entitled to change Hospice companies once every approval period.  Beat them to the punch and change companies.  Not all hospice companies are created equal.