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My wife has late stage dementia. The Hospice company says she should qualify for Medicare's 100% paid Hospice benefits (terminal with 6 months). I want to care for my wife at home with the aid of the Hospice company's nurses and aids. We can not qualify for Medicaid because our family income is over the Medicaid limit. Should we use Hospice? What are the cons of using a Hospice company?

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There is a great resource site https://hospicenet.org/html/faq.html that talks about hospice. The 2 things that stick out to me and I've reminded others on the board of is exactly what freqflyer said:
FAQ's on hospice.
9. What specific assistance does hospice provide home-based patients?
Hospice patients are cared for by a team consisting of a physician, a nurse, social workers, counselors, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and volunteers. Each one provides assistance based on his or her own area of expertise. In addition, hospices provide medications, supplies, equipment, and other services related to the terminal illness.
10. Does hospice provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Hospice staff is on call for emergencies 24 hours a day. Hospice care does not include a nurse in the home 24/7. If you require more care than can be provided in the home, some hospices have their own inpatient facilities. Most communities have nursing homes, inpatient residential centers and hospitals with hospice care options.
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Warren, Hospice is excellent but please realize they are not at the house full time. You would still be doing all the caregiving 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You would need to follow the suggestions of Hospice. Hospice will leave in your refrigerator a box of prescription medicines to use for different situations.... Hospice will leave you instructions. You can call them 24 hours a day if you have questions.

The Hospice we had for my Mom, Hospice had a schedule and we found the Nurse would stop to see my Mom to check vital signs, make any changes to medicine, and to answer any of my questions.... then she leaves to go to her next set of patients. A bath Aide will stop by to help bathe my Mom and change her clothes. A volunteer may stop by a couple times a week to be company for my Mom for a hour hour or so, to give you a break. A person of religion would also stop by [depending on your faith].

Depending on your Hospice, they could arrange to have a rented hospital bed delivered to your home, along with a wheelchair, and a geri-recliner. Other items are also given free to you via Hospice [which is paid by Medicare].

I do recommend, if your budget can handle it, to have a paid Agency Caregiver come to the house for a couple hours every day to give you a break.
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If you've gotten by this far without Medicaid, I think I'd avoid that. There are definitely cons to that.
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Warren, i agree with Jeanne that there not really any drawbacks to using Hospice. Some on this board have expressed that not for profit Hospice providers are vetter; I have no personal experience with, but thought i d pass it on.

Have you seen and Eldercare attorney about geting your wife qualified for Medicaid?
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I cared for my husband through the end of his dementia in our own home. He was on hospice the final five weeks.

I can't think of any cons.
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