I know that people with dementia are approved for hospice services in the home if they can meet the criteria. However, I don't remember hearing of any dementia patients (without concurrent illnesses such as cancer, etc.) who were end-stage and admitted to an inpatient hospice facility. Does anyone know if this is an option?
marilyn most hospices have setups with certain medicare approved hospitals for the most severe cases only i think. at least here i know the hospice i use has one set up for the really needy cases that are in terminal stage and need more complicated care. i think the dr on case has to approve the transfer to one for care as well. someone may know more. i doubt its an option but only in the most severe complicated cases where inhome care isnt sufficient and they may have more than one terminal illness.
I just wonder why it isn't an option for more people. When my MIL was dying of cancer she was in a hospice and they provided her with medication for the pain and kept her comfortable. I know the hospice concept was started for cancer patients, but wouldn't it benefit dementia patients/families as well at the very end of life? Don't some dementia patients require pain management as well?
MarilyninMD, Most hospice who have the patient as an home hospice patient will transport the patient to an in-patient hospice facility if the patient is in the actively dying stage, and if this is what the patient and family want, such as Vickie stated, maybe no more than two weeks till death, however this is not set in stone. My brother was a home hospice patient, he had severe complications and was in the hospice in patient part for over 30 days. He was transferred from skilled to intermediate almost on a weekly basis but this was only on paper as his condition declined and then was stable for certain times, however he was NEVER transferred from his in patient room.
YES!!!! Jim was admitted to a wonderful Hospice House when he began to have difficulty breathing (Motor Neuron Varient of FTD) as the atrophy attacked his lungs. He was first given sublingual morphine then on the 2nd day an Morphine Pump. We were told he had 1-2 weeks left and jointly made the decision he would stay. He died peacefully that night. I was blessed to be in the outstanding care of the compassionate staff and volunteers.