My mother was admitted to the hospice on June 11th 2025 and passed away June 19th 2025 before my mom went into hospice she was aware of her surroundings and would watch TV all day she even got upset if she missed one of her shows on TV she had dementia and refused to get out of bed but she was eating and I could change her diapers(depends) I made the mistake of calling Hospice because I was pressured by her primary care doctor and the home health aide that was assisting in my mom's cloths washing and cleaning around her bedroom.
Right after I signed the paperwork for hospice the nurse gave my mom a video call with a doctor, and he deemed her incapable of making her own decisions over a "video phone call" I have been taking care of my mom for 5 years and she was very aware of things around her. Her dementia was not that bad she was very forgetful but still retained 90% of her long-term memory and I would sit with her, and she would talk about the past all the time bringing up details of things in the past I even forgot.
Hospice was called the day after the video call because my mom went to the floor it wasn't anything serious, I assisted her to the floor when she decided she did not want to move to the chair.
Hospice arrived and sent her to assist living on June 11th, 2025, I visited my mother on June 19th, 2025, they did not like me there asking questions at all. My mom was drugged to the point she was un-aware of her surroundings I could tell she was struggling to wake up because her eyes lids would try to open and she was trying to move her mouth to talk but was so drugged up she couldn't. I swear my mom passed away from asphyxiation from the number of drugs she was on when I was there visiting, she had a hard time breathing which is why I started to ask questions I feel like I should of done more but they told me I could not take my mom out of hospice care even though I was her power of attorney over medical issues they knew I was going to do something and that night she passed away I told them I was going to be back the next day I have this bad gut feeling they rushed her death to keep me from asking more questions and taking her out of their care.
And the company in charge of her Hospice care has already had lawsuits against them for fraud and foul play. Which I just found out doing a google search on the internet.
I still have not received her death certificate, but I am sure it will say natural causes, the puzzled pieces do not fit right with me my mom was having a hard time breathing while I was visiting just a few hours before I got the phone call of her passing, I have this bad gut feeling she passed from asphyxiation from all the drugs she was on.
Just because your moms long term memory was still in tact for the most part, that is exactly how dementia works, the person loses their short term memory, but retains for the most part their long term memories, thus why the doctor deemed her incapable of making her own decisions.
That then made you as moms POA the person who was to make the decisions for her, including placing her and bringing hospice on board. It also made you the person who could remove her from hospice at any time you wanted to, as no one has to stay under hospice care if they or their POA doesn't want them to.
To me it sounds like things happened fairly quickly before you had the chance to ask the necessary questions you needed to to give you peace of mind about what was going on with your mom, but you can't go backwards only forward.
So I hope and pray that you will rest in the knowledge that your mom with her broken brain no longer has to suffer and that she is now at peace.
God bless you.
You can request a copy of your mom's medical record.
It should explain to you why she was transferred from home to the facility.
It should explain the medications that were given and why.
Request a copy of the death certificate from the funeral home. (get more than 1 you will need copies later anyway, get at least 5) As to the cause of death Alzheimer's is listed as a cause of death if that was her diagnosis.
Anyone on Hospice or their POA can withdraw from Hospice at any time,. I do not understand why they told you you that you could not take her out of Hospice. (I think you may have misunderstood. And if they did tell you that that is basically holding someone against their will and is not legal)
Any death is difficult. Let yourself grieve, give yourself some time.
My mother's friend Marie was under hospice care for 2.5 yrs.
Hospice doesn't kill people otherwise nobody would ever be released from care after 8 months.
Seek grief counseling and realize our loved ones depart when God takes them.
My condolences on the loss of your dear mom.
With dementia the declines can be drastic and sudden. Long term memory and the ability to tell stories is not a good indication of the level life left in a dementia patient. And, in my experience, my LO have had quite good long term memory even in end stage dementia.
This is a caregiving forum and the expertise is not within the scope you are seeking. If you would like to put you mind at ease, you will need to consult with an attorney who will look at the facts of the case presented.
Best wishes to you.
I'm so sorry. I don't think Hospice hastened her death. Maybe a higher power did not want her to continue to suffer anymore.
Please take time to grieve. Prayers and Blessings!!
Hospice should have told you what was happening and why. So sorry for your loss.
Navet, what you describe is symptoms of someone who is actively dying. Hospice doesn't kill people. They make them more comfortable as they pass away. If mom was given drugs, it was to ease her so she wouldn't suffer.
If you've never seen someone who is dying, it can be quite a shock. The body goes through a great change, and it can be startling. I suggest grief counseling, and hospice can direct you to it. Please ask them to do that.
I would request a list from hospice of the medications and doses she received under their care.
My mom was in hospice (then taken off after several months due to improvement) and there wasn't a thing they gave her that was not ran by me first. Your mother could not give informed consent so that consent should've been yours.
Get the answers you seek. Sorry about your mom.
It still makes me sad that she refused to accept the help available to them both until he couldn't benefit in any meaningful way.
Please ask for the counseling that hospice offers. It can help you understand what happened.
I am so sorry for your loss and pray that The Lord gives you grieving mercies, strength and comfort during this difficult time. It is hard to lose our mom.
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