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SandyC7606 Asked November 2013

Is failure to thrive no longer a criteria for eligibility to hospice?

My 92 year old father has been in hospice at home since April. He was diagnosed with bone metastases, primary cancer unknown due to his fragile state in January. This was discovered when he entered the hospital for a UTI. Since home with hospice aides and at times private pay aides he has stabilized, no cancer symptoms. He is still weak, some dementia, wandered for the first time last week walking about two blocks from his home (my brothers lives with him). I'm thinking in the elderly cancers can grow slow at times. He also has congestive heart failure and AFib.

He will be having his second evaluation since being on hospice in another week. The hospice nurse told me that because he is not progressing in my decline, that he is basically stable, that he may no longer qualify.

I questioned her about failure to thrive and was told it's no longer a qualification. Does anyone know anything about this.

Jinx4740 Nov 2013
I think Palliative care focuses on pain relief whether you are terminal or not. Just a guess, but IMO things to help him breathe would be covered.

jeannegibbs Nov 2013
Ask the social worker who would be involved.

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SandyC7606 Nov 2013
He gets a nebullizer treatment (15 mintues) and oxygen therapy (about 15 - 30 mintues) once a day. Under palliative care would he still get those?

jeannegibbs Nov 2013
I have heard that the criteria have changed considerably.

If Dad no longer qualifies for Hospice, ask about Palliative Care.

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