How to get hospice care for an Alzheimer's mother?

Medicare has criteria for hospice in which the patient has to be showing a decline in factors such as losing ability to ambulate, poor appetite with documented weight loss. Dementia is a factor but not a strong. Interpretation may depend on who does the evaluate. My in-laws qualified for hospice due to pain and needing pain meds, not eating and weight loss and she broke her hip and would walk walk. She died but he stabilized so although he is much more confused and that has declined a lot, he is eating and gained a pound. So he will be discharged from hospice. Wat he received from hospice was 2 visits a week with RN. She did not really do physical care but she did change dressings and 2 visits per week from an aide to do his shower. Hospice does not provide extended or frequent visits for care even for patients who are in a private home. PCP writes order for assessment but hospice nurse evaluated to see if they qualify. And they are re-assessed every 2 weeks.

In our situation, we reached out to hospice first. We then gave them written permission to contact dad’s physicians for info and the order for hospice care. We never had to speak to any of dad’s doctors again. Hospice took care of everything.

Contact the Hospice of your choice.
There are 2 basic types For Profit and Not for Profit.
Contact the Hospice you choose and have them come and evaluate your mom. They will most likely contact her doctor and use his or her evaluation in the process.
The 6 months or less is a "guideline" it is not hard and fast. As long as there is a continued, documented decline a person will probably remain on Hospice. (My Husband was on Hospice 3 years)
There are many advantages to Hospice.
Hospice will have a nurse come in 1 time a week, a CNA will most likely come 2 or 3 times a week. You will be able to take advantage of Social Worker, Chaplain as well as other Therapies. You will get medications delivered to your home. You will get supplies and equipment and you can ask for a Volunteer to come and sit with her to keep her company.
No need to call the insurance company. If she is Hospice eligible they will take care of all that.
Hospice becomes your "go to" no 911 calls all you have to do is call your Hospice and they will come out if it is necessary. Hospice will make the determination if a trip to the hospital is necessary. The only restriction is there can be no treatment for the condition that qualified the person for Hospice. But other conditions can and would be treated.

It would be her PCP. He can make the referral for hospice. Her dementia should qualify her. I believe she has a formal diagnosis right? Contact her PCP and try to get a hospice referral. She doesn’t have to be considered end-of-life in order to qualify since she has a terminal diagnosis. My MIL had to have her doctor refer her for hospice, they wouldn’t come out to assess her without a referral. Good luck! Also I just explained ways to spend down the $19k on your other post.

Call several hospice providers in your area and seek their input. In my experience, non profit hospice priders are the best.

They may be able to send some out out to assess your mom.