So, Doctor says Palliative Care

Caring62

This year has been tough for my mother, 83, with later stage ALZ.  Until September she lived in AL, then moved to MC.  The move to MC was anticipated but determined necessary by late summer.  

Mom has had several falls and trips to the ER, resulting in black eyes, stitches in forehead and the latest a small brain bleed when hitting her head.  She is chronically fatigued and sleeps a lot.  However she is mobile and labeled impulsive by Docs so continues to be a high risk of falls.  She has lost 40 lbs in 6 months.  She is just not hungry and stops eating after a few bites.  

She is in OT/PT rehab to improve her strength but we she will go to a location with a higher level of care (Adult Family Home or more acute MC) afterwards.

The family has agreed to Palliative care given the input from medical teams.  I wonder however how they can even estimate she will not probably last 12 months.    

Thoughts?

Thanks

M1

Hard to hear I'm sure. The weight loss is a huge red flag for poor prognosis, and the falls as well. Beyond that it's hard to say without more information.

Ci2Ci

Caring62 wrote:

The family has agreed to Palliative care given the input from medical teams.  I wonder however how they can even estimate she will not probably last 12 months.    

I have never heard Palliative Care described with a timeframe (unlike Hospice) -- suppose to just be about having an incurable condition. Don't even have to strop treatments. Trying to get this for LO/PWD, as it appears to give you additional medical support, while covered my Medicare.