My mom is 97. She has dementia and congestive heart failure and is receiving hospice services, mainly because of the CHF. When Mom has had symptoms suggesting that she might have a UTI, the hospice staff has ordered a urine test and has prescribed an antibiotic if the test is positive for a UTI. It seems clear to me that a run-of-the-mill UTI is within the category of ailments that hospice allows treatment for. Right now, Mom has a UTI caused by an uncommon bacteria. This type of UTI can be difficult to treat, and it appears that the antibiotic that Mom is taking might not be vanquishing the bacteria.What are your thoughts about continuing to treat a UTI such as this in a hospice patient: (1) once a UTI, always a UTI; if hospice recommends treating it, I'll go along with that; (2) if a person is taking an antibiotic to prevent potentially life-threatening complications of a UTI, we're outside the bounds of hospice; (3) something else. I'm not the decision-maker. I know what the decision-maker (one sibling) would do. Sibling might accept input from me or might not.Thank you.
Think of it this way. The goal is COMFORT.
Speak with Hospice. That is their "other" specialty. They are there with clergy, nurses, social workers to give you answers.
We found the IV antibiotics to be the most effective but Mom could only get them in an ER setting. Hospice would only prescribe antibiotics in pill form.
Mom had celiac disease which by definition meant she had compromised digestion. I suspect the average 97 year old also does not have really great digestion and absorption of pills and absorption of medications through the digestive tract.
Support to you and your family in these challenging times.
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