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My husband with AD has declined at an alarming rate in the last three months. I have a live-in caregiver, but he's becoming too much for the two of us. My husband can only take meds crushed in applesauce now, he is very unsteady on his feet and has taken several falls and has ripped the buttons off of every shirt we put on him. He has become combative towards both of us. The facilitator of the in-person support group I attend suggested calling in Hospice. How do you know when it's an appropriate time for that? Bless all the Caregivers during this holiday season and all year long.

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Ask his MD what your husband's life expectancy is. Dementia or Alzheimer's alone is not a qualifier, nor is combative behavior. There must be medical tests that indicate he has less than six months to live. Hospice does not provide memory care or nursing home coverage.
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Hospice is for those patients where the doctor thinks the patient has 6 months or less to live. It's not etched in concrete so one on hospice watch can be taken off and later down the road be placed back on.

With dementia it can last for years. I would suggest hubby be placed in a memory care unit that can handle him. Then the doctor there can assess him to see if he is in the final stage of dementia or if it is not time yet.
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Call in hospice and let them determine if they think it's appropriate for your husband.

From what you wrote it sounds as if your husband would benefit from a wheelchair from now on so he doesn't fall again. Or hospice can provide a hospital bed for your husband so he won't have to get up anymore. The controls will allow you to care for him while not straining your back and the bed has rails in case your husband has a mind to get up on his own.

Anti-anxiety medication will calm him down and make him less combative and thus easier for you and your live-in caregiver to care for him. Hospice provides the medication.

If you're wondering whether hospice is appropriate it probably is.
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