Someone said they weren't going to use hospice because it would be expensive. Not so if you are on Medicare. It's free. I think it most likely is with ordinary health insurance too. Dementia hospice can go on for a long time. My husband was on it for a year. Getting set with them as soon as our pcp would authorize it meant that we could find a good mix of nurse and aide and by the end they were totally helpful and understanding.
You are right...Medicare and private insurance covers it...but I was amazed at what it cost the taxpayers.....I got a statement once a month and the hospice charged Medicare over $5000/month and this was years ago....who knows what the charge is now. Mind you the RN came twice a week for about 1/2 hour (if that) and the aide was here three times a week to give my husband a bed bath. I used none of their supplies because they were inferior to what I already used.....my husband took no meds so they didn't even provide that. I am assuming that if I had needed more from them the charge to Medicare would have increased.
It is a wonderful service, but I am thinking due to the economic crisis the criteria for qualifying for the hospice will become more stringent.
I also will let you know what hospice will cost....I am covered under Medicare, but I really wonder what they will charge for 2 nurse visits, an hr and 58 minutes of continuous care, and an end of life kit....I bet it will be around $8,000.
I read an article not too long ago where the costs to MEDICARE for hospice are really staggering now. I can testify to that as far as my AD SIL is concerned. SIL has been in a NH for 3 years. lst six months were private pay and after that Hospice (Medicare) took over. She has been in a catatonic state the entire 3 years. No way my BIL could qualify for Medicaid (too well off). Once a patient gets hospice in the state SIL is in, they never go off and it would seem that 88 yr. old SIL has a strong heart and will not suffer demise in the near future. Only thing SIL can do is sleep and eat a little if spoon-fed.
I agree that the costs are outrageous to Medicare and that they should probably be a candidate for budget cuts. But still, when we need them, we need them. I can't say don't ask for the help for yourself so as to save the country some money! Private duty aides from an agency not on hospice don't charge nearly as much of course. And when you get the incompetent ones like Phranque was getting you REALLY wonder about those costs!
MediCARE pays for Hospice. MedicAID pays for the nursing home.
According to what I found out when hospice was contacted for DW was that medicare advantage plan reverted back to regular medicare which automatically pays for hospice.
Depends, MotherT. Primarily on if they can do any of the ADLs, and if they have a complicating disease like cancer or diabetes. If you are managing fine without them, you don't need them. If you can get enough help from aides, you don't need them. But if, as was the case with me and my husband, he becomes bedridden, it's good to have someone knowledgeable checking on them for bedsores, giving meds that in their experience really help with behaviors, giving you counselling about how to deal with them, planning for the future, etc. If you wait until "close to the end" they won't know your husband in an earlier phase and not be helpful in dealing with him or you. They also can make sure you have all the DNR, and 'comfort care only' materials. Hospice also, under Medicare, allows the caregiver to have occasional "RESPITES" which seem to vary from hospice to hospice but which are for YOU. Sometimes you have to ask for them!
But dementia hospice can go on (with repeated certifications every few months) for quite some time. They were a great help to me, but as I say above, the cost to society is not trivial.