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The NH wants to suggest Hospice Care. He is not terminal yet and he still wants medical care for his various issues. I'm not ready for him to do this either. I need information about Hospice Care, providers, what they do and not offer for patient care, and when is this suggested for the patient? If my dad doesn't want Hospice Care yet, what are his rights or mine as his POA?

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Hospice care is usually suggested when doctors feel that a patient has 6 months left to live. Now that doesn't mean that the person will in fact die in 6 months, as my husband was under there care for the last 22 months of his life. If your father is still wanting his medical issues addressed by his doctors, then hospice wouldn't come on board to help him, as they're only goal is to keep someone comfortable when medical treatments are no longer wanted by the patient. If your father decides that he does in fact want hospice services, then they would send a nurse once a week to begin with to the nursing home, to check his vitals and such. An aide would also come about twice a week to bathe him. They would also supply any and all medications they deemed necessary, along with any medical equipment or supplies at no charge to your father, as hospice care is covered 100% under Medicare. And if and when the time came that his final days were near, you would also have the option to have your father transferred to their hospice facility where he would be able to die there, instead of the nursing home. Just keep in mind as well, that at any time, even if he decides to go under hospice care, you or he can change your mind and continue under his own medical doctors care. No one can make you take hospice's care if you or he doesn't want it. If you do decide to involve hospice, just please make sure you do your homework on the different hospice agencies in your area, as they are not all created equal. I wish you and your father the best.
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Medicare will pay for hospice. If he care needs are increasing and he’s not terminal, I don’t see why the facility is suggesting hospice?? They won’t provide much in the way of hands on care. He’ll be assigned a nurse who will monitor him and order medication and durable medical equipment. Hospice will also send out a CNA to bathe him a few times a week. But that’s it as far as hands on care goes. It’s not really much different than being on hospice at home—at home the family does most of the hands on care. In a nursing home, the staff provide the care.
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Last May when my MIL contracted covid in her LTC facility and became very ill, the facility suggested hospice, and she qualified (as a Medicaid recipient). She recovered from covid and remained on hospice for about 6 months, then it was agreed she could be taken off and resume her normal care. Hospice for her at the time was great because she got more attention. She had signed a DNR so with covid, they couldn't really do much for her except give her oxygen and Tylenol. Not even IV fluids. There must be a reason why the NH is suggesting hospice for your father -- I would explore this option before turning it down.
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I would talk to the doctor associated with the NH. He will be the one who orders Hospice. Ask him why Hospice is being suggested. Maybe medication is no longer helping Dad's issues.
No, they cannot force Hospice on a resident.

As said Medicare pays the cost.
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