Senior on inpatient hospice, should he be treated for UTI?
Uncle Johnny is 92, was living independently, but has been saying for a while he wants to die, mostly because of acute shortness of breath. He was still capable of going to the store by himself in the trips run by his senior apartment building, but passed out after the last trip and was hospitalized. He was treated for pneumonia then moved into inpatient hospice just until his acute symptoms were managed.
He was sharp as a tack and mentally all there until yesterday or so, and now for the first time he is hallucinating, agitated, wants me to come immediately and get him out of there, mistrusts the nurses because they won't give him his walker, etc. I just realized that of course, since he is in hospice he is no longer being given antibiotics and this could be the UTI talking.
Does hospice never treat for acute things like a UTI? Can we request that he be treated?
Its hard to know because after saying regularly that he just wants to die, now he is saying that he's sad he has to go. I would sure rather he stayed around for a while, but want to respect his wishes .
It sounds like they are going to treat him for the UTI...my sister and I thought all treatment for such things stopped in hospice but I'm glad we were wrong. It just disturbs me that they didn't seem to know, from his hospital records, that he had a UTI and needed me to ask them to check!
I think that it is common for people to be sad that they have come to the end of their lives. Something so final that it is hard to comprehend the multitude of emotions that happen.
I would clarify with hospice that he is suffering from the UTI and it needs to be treated. He should not be feeling so agitated, that is not what hospice represents, it should be easing his transition.
I am sorry for your loss and I pray that the hospice treats your uncle and gives him the best care for a peaceful passing. May your family receive grieving mercies and comfort during this difficult time.
You say that he was moved into inpatient hospice just until his acute symptoms were managed. Why do you think that they wouldn't give him antibiotics for a UTI?