My Mom is being discharged from hospice after 6 months. What other resources are available to help me with her care?

My mother was discharged from hospice after about three months. We were thrilled that she had improved enough that her death no longer seemed imminent, but, like you, very worried about losing the resources hospice had provided. She got the highback wheelchair, and a few other items, now billed under Medicare instead of Hospice. She had two visits from hospice volunteers and that was very helpful when she was essentially bed bound, but now that she is feeling better the nursing home staff comes and brings her to activities, and I don't think she misses the volunteer visits.

Hospice care cuts through a lot of the red tap for you, and now you are on your own to face that, but, in our experience, the care for your Mom can continue at a high quality level. If she is still on Hospice, talk to the social worker and/or nurse about your concerns. We found them very helpful, and they even delayed discharging her until the replacement wheelchair was available.

I know that things are little different at home, but you can have, for example, bath aides a couple times a week. Talk to her doctor.

Do you think it would be better for Mom to be cared for in a 24-hour facility? You could visit her as her loving daughter, as we do our mom, knowing that her needs will be met around the clock.

Pam, this is an awesome post. Thank you for this valuable information. I had no idea how they 'rated' someone for hospice and what had to be going on to have someone admitted into the program. Very helpfull.

Hospice is dropping patients IF they go to their own doctor, or if they go to the ER or if they continue medications that extend longevity, such as BP meds, cholesterol meds, vitamins, etc. They also drop patients who have only dementia, because dementia alone will not kill someone.
Medicare now requires MD's to submit PROOF, test results or reports that substantiate a condition that will lead to death within 6 months, such as stage 4 cancer, advanced heart failure or kidney failure that does not respond to treatment. Medicare part B will provide a hospital bed and whatever other items are prescribed by her MD, just not through Hospice billing. Visiting Nurses and aides are also ordered by her MD instead of Hospice. If she was married to a wartime Vet, look into Aid & Attendance help from the VA.