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If you don't think Mom should be in hospice you are smart to be concerned. Hospice is for those close to death needing pain meds.

If you have POA you can unenroll her.
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ShirleyDot Jun 21, 2025
Hospice is for those deemed to have 6 months or less to live, not just for people close to death “needing pain meds.”
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You can unenroll her with hospice. It is easy. I did it with Mom. Call hospice. They will be out in 24 hours. Sign some paperwork. They pick up the black box of morphine.
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Ask the nurse for Hopices phone number and call them. Ask them the questions you asked here. First, why did they feel Mom needed hospice? If you are Moms POA or Mom has no problems cognitively, you can stop Hospice.

But first, you need to find out why itvwas felt she needed it. Pneumonia kills, maybe it was felt Mom would not survive.
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I hope, along with the other answers you have my response might calm your fears.
Hospice does NOT mean a person will die right away. While the general criteria is 6 months or fewer given the current condition of the patient.
A patient can remain on Hospice for an extended period of time. (My husband was on Hospice for almost 3 years)
The requirement is that:
*The person does not seek curative measures. (for the condition that qualified them for Hospice, this does not mean Hospice will not treat infections or other conditions that will impact the quality of life or cause pain or discomfort)
*The person has a continued, documented decline while on Hospice.
Obviously there are other conditions but I think these are impactful for you now.

The nice thing about having Hospice is a Nurse will check on her weekly.
A CNA will give her a bath or shower. (this means that the facility CNA will no longer bathe or shower her, no duplication of billing)
The Nurse will order all medical supplies and the CNA will order all personal supplies.
There will be no more trips to the ER..unless it is authorized by Hospice. Or the decision is made to withdraw Hospice and then return to Hospice if that is the desire once the condition has been resolved, (example, mom breaks an arm in a fall, this can be treated surgically if needed then she can return to Hospice after surgery. If Rehab is desired she would remain off Hospice until discharged from rehab)

But...if you are mom's POA this should have been discussed and explained and if your POA is active you should have been the one to approve the admission to Hospice.
You can ask to see who signed the forms admitting her to Hospice.

Do not let the fact that mom is on Hospice scare you or make you think that she is actively dying.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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when Susan first posted her message stated only

How to switch from comfort care to skilled care.

Then she went back and added the first message and then she changed her post.

Hopefully she will give us an update.

It can be shocking when someone first learns a Lo is on hospice.
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Who is making her medical decisions for her? If it isn�t a MPoA then maybe she�s in a facility and they are doing it? Or maybe your Mom is directing her own care? A person can come off of hospice if they improve.
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Who is the POA for your mother?
That person should discuss with the doctor and the current Hospice a discharge from Hospice to home or in-facility care.
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Someone had to OK for her to be on Hospice. A doctor had to order it. A NH doesn't just call Hospice in. The resident has to agree to it or the POA.
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Susan

So mom is in the NH, recently discharged from hospital and you have been told she is on hospice. Is that correct?

First who signed the paperwork for her to be on hospice?

Are you your mom’s POA? Her next of kin? If you are not, speak to that person.

Sometimes a patient will rally or suddenly seem to improve before death. Sometimes a patient will actually improve enough that they no longer require the oversight of hospice.

if your mom is in the NH she is getting skilled care but hospice is in charge of her meds. You can let hospice know you want mom to remain on her meds.

Know that hospice is often ordered long before a person actually passes. People are on hospice for years sometimes. It only means that they have a terminal illness that they could pass from within 6 months. They will be reassessed on a regular basis. In a NH hospice works with the NH. The NH still passes the meds, their meals, changes the patient, takes care of their room etc. The NH doctor will still make rounds. The hospice will discuss which meds mom might stop. If you don’t want her to stop any meds, say so to hospice.

The person who is responsible for mom should speak with the hospice and/or the Admin office or Director of Nursing to clear up any confusion.

I’m sorry you and mom are going through this. I’m so happy mom is over her pneumonia.
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Susan.

I see mom is in a Nursing Home. You can speak with the Director of Nurses or with the Hospice. Is the hospice an independent company you signed with or did the NH provide then?

More information would be helpful to understand the context of your situation. Sometimes writing out what is going on can help you understand the situation better yourself.
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How can we get a reassessment if she is now in a nursing home?
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