I need some advice on which one of these to utilize... My sister has many chronic diseases... in the hospital now. Has been in and out of Hospitals for last 7 years. Doctor says now shes will need 24/7 care once she is released out of hospital.
Sonya, I suspect there are multiple issues, some conflicting, some controllable, some not. And I'm sorry to learn that you're in this challenging and sad position. It's a hard place to be.
I'll share my experience with Select Specialty Hospitals, which are focused on caring, maintaining and/or curing (if possible) certain long term care conditions. My experience was when my father was intubated, then trached, but suffered from so many complications that it was questionable whether he would survive.
One ICU doctor and a nurse advised that Dad would not live. I challenged that and searched for better care. The more rational staff helped me locate SSH.
SSH focused on the respiratory care, provided limited physical rehab, and brought him to the point of actually progressing toward eventual removal of the trach.
Long story made short, he beat the odds, eventually was able to eat on his own, went back to work building a workshop, lived a full life up until a year or so from his death, and died at 99.5 years of age.
So it depends on (a) the specific chronic conditions (b) whether and/or how well they can be managed (c) whether or not they're terminal (d) other complicating factors, (e) your sister's own individual determination, and (f) support that can be provided for her.
I think what has to be done is to identify the conditions that are chronic, and can or can't be cured, and which has the potential to be life ending. Then assessments on how to manage the former need to be made, and you'll need to research and determine if you and your sister have the available funds and stamina to face these challenges.
Also very important is what quality of life she would have.
If, on the other hand, her conditions are overwhelming and terminal, such as stage IV or end term cancer, and can't be controlled, then I would consider hospice.
I hope this helps. If not, please post again, with detail on the issues that concern you the most.
When my husband faced being on a ventilator and stomach tube for the rest of his life a few months ago, the ICU doctors recommended a skilled nursing facility that offered special care for patients who were intubated. If, at some point his condition had deteriorated to the point that there was not much hope of recovery, then he would have been put on Hospice. I would absolutely speak with her care team to see what they advise.
Hospice doesn't provide a place to stay indefinitely. There is a charge for the facility, not the services, but the room.
Please speak with the hospice to ensure that you understand exactly what they provide and how it is paid for. I would talk to several.
Also, you have to be approved for hospice, so depending on what is going on she may not qualify, needing 24/7 care doesn't mean she is ready for hospice.
If you take her home please know that hospice does not provide actual care, they provide services, ie, bath aid, nurse, chaplain, social worker that type of thing. Someone else will have to be her caregiver.
I'll share my experience with Select Specialty Hospitals, which are focused on caring, maintaining and/or curing (if possible) certain long term care conditions. My experience was when my father was intubated, then trached, but suffered from so many complications that it was questionable whether he would survive.
One ICU doctor and a nurse advised that Dad would not live. I challenged that and searched for better care. The more rational staff helped me locate SSH.
SSH focused on the respiratory care, provided limited physical rehab, and brought him to the point of actually progressing toward eventual removal of the trach.
Long story made short, he beat the odds, eventually was able to eat on his own, went back to work building a workshop, lived a full life up until a year or so from his death, and died at 99.5 years of age.
So it depends on (a) the specific chronic conditions (b) whether and/or how well they can be managed (c) whether or not they're terminal (d) other complicating factors, (e) your sister's own individual determination, and (f) support that can be provided for her.
I think what has to be done is to identify the conditions that are chronic, and can or can't be cured, and which has the potential to be life ending. Then assessments on how to manage the former need to be made, and you'll need to research and determine if you and your sister have the available funds and stamina to face these challenges.
Also very important is what quality of life she would have.
If, on the other hand, her conditions are overwhelming and terminal, such as stage IV or end term cancer, and can't be controlled, then I would consider hospice.
I hope this helps. If not, please post again, with detail on the issues that concern you the most.
Please speak with the hospice to ensure that you understand exactly what they provide and how it is paid for. I would talk to several.
Also, you have to be approved for hospice, so depending on what is going on she may not qualify, needing 24/7 care doesn't mean she is ready for hospice.
If you take her home please know that hospice does not provide actual care, they provide services, ie, bath aid, nurse, chaplain, social worker that type of thing. Someone else will have to be her caregiver.