Hospice while in MC

I have not walked this path yet, but last winter when my LO in MC was very ill, I asked the MC director of nursing to tell me about hospice. That facility works regularly with a couple of different hospice organizations. The MC director spoke well of “having more eyes” on the resident. Hospice would mean regular visits from hospice staff as well as access to chaplains, additional nurses, etc. I had the impression that they are all used to working together.

My DW is in an MCF and has now been on hospice for over two years. She is very, very near the bitter end, Stage 7f, of this awful disease. The primary benefit has been additional nursing oversight and the hospice doctor who is very familiar with dementia patients. They provide aides with useful expertise in bathing and feeding. Hospice also provides incontinence supplies and some end-of-life medications. They also provide additional services, like a music therapist, and a social worker, which is nice but not essential to her care. All at no cost if they are on Medicare.

But of course hospice also means that you agree that your LO will generally not be provided with restorative medical care, just palliative care for medical conditions that could lead to your LO’s passing. This is the only real downside, but only if you’re not ready to forgo “saving” them in case they have a life threatening issue. But of course you can just take them off hospice in that case if you want.

Hospice was a wonderful extra layer of services in mom's memory care facility. They worked with the facility staff to care for her. Facilities are used to it, happens all the time. It meant more visits for mom, more eyes on her, more supplies and equipment and the whole thing was designed to make her more comfortable. They sent a chaplain and music therapist. Her hospice nurse was wonderful and had more time that the facility nurse to really guide me and answer questions. Once you are ready to forego trips to the emergency room and extreme interventions and just focus on the quality of their remaining days, there is no downside to hospice in my experience. It doesn't hurt to have your loved one evaluated. They have their metrics, and if he doesn't quite qualify now they will track him and check back every few weeks to re-assess. Not all hospices are the same, they all spend their resources a little differently so you can shop around and find one you like.