When to plan hospice?

jddavis1000

Hi, I'm a family member that lives out of state from mom who has AZ.  She's having delusions, hallucinations, and sometimes physical aggression.  She is talking about death a great deal and has some pain.  We have her in the very best facility possibe and they provide round-the-clock care.  One of use family members (Dad, brother, me or all of us at once) visits her just about every day.  I went for a long weekend and plan to go back in September.  

How do we know when to arrange for hospice?  A doctor told me he did it 3 months before his mother died from AZ and that is about the right time.  Its hard to know the degree of pain though as the speech gets worse.  I'm just worried.  I don't think she's there yet although she has started having pain when swallowing.

M1

Welcome to the forum.  Hard to help from out of state, for sure.  You may not have much to lose by asking for a hospice evaluation--there's another current thread about a memory care facility asking to put a person on hospice in order to have additional help.  You won't be penalized for asking; if the evalutators think it's too soon, they will say so, but it won't be held against her or you for any future requests.  Good luck---

Beauchene105

Her facility can also request palliative care. My mom's palliative care is administered through a hospice. It provides some of the same services, but she still takes curative medication and not simply comfort medication. You might inquire. I am glad for the palliative care being in place for when the day comes & it's decided hospice is more appropriate.

Elshack

Check the spouse caretaker forum as I did answer a post re: when to place on hospice. You can ask the facility to have hospice evaluate and they will decide if pallative care is indicated or hospice.