Just wondering if any of you have used or as using palliative care for your spouse. Palliative care is a supportive service available to individuals who have a chronic health condition and dementia is considered just that. I decided to enroll my DH in this type of care and so far it seems to be a good decision. A nurse practitioner is visiting us monthly to monitor his vitals and take note of any decline in his cognitive abilities. She has been helpful in encouraging me to use medications to calm him down to achieve his cooperation for various medical and dental treatments. She has also been able to refer me to podiatrists who will make house calls since DH won't let me touch his toenails. I've also been visited by a social worker who just listened to my moans and groans and will check in with me occasionally to see how I'm doing. It's nice to know that someone else cares and is willing to support me in this journey.
Elaine, I've thought about using Palliative care but have no idea how to get in touch with a group who provides palliative care. Also, do they charge for their services?
LFL -- My DH's palliative care is through the local hospice agency. I learned about their services through a presentation given at a spousal support group I attend. Yes, they do charge, but first it is billed through Medicare and then your DH's supplement. If you contact a local hospice group, they may be able to advise you on palliative care. I think it's worth it to investigate.
My experience with palliative care for my spouse occurred in the facility setting. When in rehab, the social worker there was aware not only that I had POA but that my husband had completed an advance directive literally more than a decade before the FTD hit. The form for this was a fill-in and so was completed in his own handwriting. Accordingly, she was able to point me in the direction of several ALF's that were palliative care.
The facility had a house doc specially certified in palliative care who was hospice credentialed as well. I expected the majority of residents to be on hospice but that was not the case. Some were quite independent and were, I think, there as a precaution and because it was a good fit with their philosophy.
My husband was private pay; he was not eligible for Medicare.
I do want to mention that my best friend, deceased now 11 years (also in June), had palliative care in her home. She had volunteered as a guardian ad litem and knew about this option through that. She later went on hospice and remained in her home.
LFL, I would start with a doc in this speciality. "Palliativedoctors.org" has a doctor finder link on its site.
My husband has palliative care through hospice. I guess you are talking about those who are not eligible for hospice? We had both completed updated healthcare directives and POAs in 2011 after he was showing signs of dementia. I was afraid at the Lawyers office at the last minute he would refuse to sign it, even though he did understand what it was about.