After hospitalization for pneumonia, my 99-yr-old mother is to be discharged to Hospice. Does that mean she is expected to live less than six months? Or is one that age automatically eligible for Hospice?
all i can say is that, you must have done an amazing job. your mother is 99. that doesn’t happen totally automatically. there’s a lot of work behind the scenes.
Pneumonia is very serious in the elderly. The morphine given by Hospice helps with breathing so keeps the person comfortable.
Please, when you meet with the Hospice admitting nurse, make sure you understand what is involved. Have a second set of ears there so that person picks up what you may not. First, Hospice does not hasten death. They are there to keep the person comfortable. No heroic measures will be taken. A DNR will have to be in place. When the patient stops breathing, thats it. The family still does most of the work when Hospice is done in the home. Family is taught how to give the medication.
When Hospice rules changed a few years back my daughter was working LTC. She said residents that did not qualify before suddenly did. It was not so much they were actively dying but what they had wrong with them they would eventually die from. She said one Hospice nurse was fairly new at the whole process and a little gun ho. She wanted to call the family and tell them that the resident was dying because of her breathing. My daughter told the Nurse that was the way the resident breathed all the time. The Nurse chose not to listen to my daughter, called in the family, resident not found to be actively dying.
But do realize that Hospice is not there to make someone better. They are there to make someone comfortable and ease pain.
My 87 yr old mother with a terminal diagnosis of advanced dementia was. Her doctor recommended it although her passing wasn’t imminent. She’s 89 now and was actually on hospice 2 1/2 yrs. Medicare stopped renewing her certification though because her progression is slow. She’s had dementia for over 12 yrs now. Despite being in the final stages (bedridden, barely talking, can’t turn over, in a hospital bed etc), hospice had to stop. They did keep her in their system though with palliative care & the nurse can visit that way even though it’s just twice a month compared to 4. But yes you can get hospice for a terminal condition but apparently Medicare has a time limit.
Kelkel This may be a situation of what the market will bear in your specific area but if I were you I would call another hospice for an evaluation unless you are happy with the way things are now.
6 months is the start. There are recertification periods. So a person can remain on Hospice for longer than 6 months. There needs to be a continued, documented decline. (my Husband was on Hospice almost 3 years) I am sure she was referred to Hospice because of the pneumonia and even more so if it was an Aspiration Pneumonia.
HerFirst Hospice benefits are great for anyone nearing the end of life. It is not 24/7 care unless a person is actively dying and then Medicare will pay for a hospice facility if needed. Otherwise it is a check on a regular basis by a nurse and help with other issues as babs mentioned. A 99 year old could certainly die of most anything within 6 months but of course, not all do, if your mom is still living after six months, she will most likely continue on hospice care. While I doubt it’s written that anyone at 99 automatically qualifies, I can’t imagine they would be turned down. They are mostly for profit companies and not all the same. You might want to visit with more than one. Your mom will be able to still get all her regular care as well as hospice care. She just can’t go to the hospital and remain on hospice. Medicare will pay one or the other. It’s very easy to go off and back on hospice if hospital care is needed. My DH Aunt has been on hospice about 3 years and has been off at least twice during that time. She is 96. It is sobering when someone suggests hospice care is appropriate but it is not a death sentence, more an acknowledgment that she is in decline.
Hospice doesn’t necessarily mean imminent dying.. it does mean your loved probably will continue to decline and pass. My mothers hospice recertified every 2 months , I think most is 6 months . As long as they continue to decline, they stay on hospice.
Hospice is a God send . A RN will call weekly, A CNA , twice weekly , who will help with baths , Care etc.. a social worker monthly, clergy every 3 weeks.. my mother lit up when her minister visited . Hospice will provide a hospital bed , wheelchair, hoyer lift , depend , chux pads, lotions , etc as they are needed. My mom was given meds for pain as needed..
❤️🙂 easter hug to you & your mother
Please, when you meet with the Hospice admitting nurse, make sure you understand what is involved. Have a second set of ears there so that person picks up what you may not. First, Hospice does not hasten death. They are there to keep the person comfortable. No heroic measures will be taken. A DNR will have to be in place. When the patient stops breathing, thats it. The family still does most of the work when Hospice is done in the home. Family is taught how to give the medication.
When Hospice rules changed a few years back my daughter was working LTC. She said residents that did not qualify before suddenly did. It was not so much they were actively dying but what they had wrong with them they would eventually die from. She said one Hospice nurse was fairly new at the whole process and a little gun ho. She wanted to call the family and tell them that the resident was dying because of her breathing. My daughter told the Nurse that was the way the resident breathed all the time. The Nurse chose not to listen to my daughter, called in the family, resident not found to be actively dying.
But do realize that Hospice is not there to make someone better. They are there to make someone comfortable and ease pain.
This may be a situation of what the market will bear in your specific area but if I were you I would call another hospice for an evaluation unless you are happy with the way things are now.
There are recertification periods. So a person can remain on Hospice for longer than 6 months. There needs to be a continued, documented decline. (my Husband was on Hospice almost 3 years)
I am sure she was referred to Hospice because of the pneumonia and even more so if it was an Aspiration Pneumonia.
Hospice benefits are great for anyone nearing the end of life. It is not 24/7 care unless a person is actively dying and then Medicare will pay for a hospice facility if needed. Otherwise it is a check on a regular basis by a nurse and help with other issues as babs mentioned.
A 99 year old could certainly die of most anything within 6 months but of course, not all do,
if your mom is still living after six months, she will most likely continue on hospice care. While I doubt it’s written that anyone at 99 automatically qualifies, I can’t imagine they would be turned down.
They are mostly for profit companies and not all the same. You might want to visit with more than one.
Your mom will be able to still get all her regular care as well as hospice care. She just can’t go to the hospital and remain on hospice. Medicare will pay one or the other. It’s very easy to go off and back on hospice if hospital care is needed. My DH Aunt has been on hospice about 3 years and has been off at least twice during that time. She is 96.
It is sobering when someone suggests hospice care is appropriate but it is not a death sentence, more an acknowledgment that she is in decline.
Hospice is a God send . A RN will call weekly, A CNA , twice weekly , who will help with baths , Care etc.. a social worker monthly, clergy every 3 weeks.. my mother lit up when her minister visited . Hospice will provide a hospital bed , wheelchair, hoyer lift , depend , chux pads, lotions , etc as they are needed. My mom was given meds for pain as needed..
I wish you peace with this journey…