She just came home from being in the hospital for two weeks with a stomach bug that caused a host of other problems. The doctor decided hospice was the best thing for her. We haven't told her and don't want her to know. She does still understand what is going on sometimes. We (I) am her full time caregiver and I'm worried about her depression getting worse if she knows about hospice. We have told her the nurse comes to check her so she wont have to go back to the hospital for anything.
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If Hospice has become a "dirty word" in your home, just tell her it's Home Health Care.
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Is she comfortable?
Do you think that telling her that she is on Hospice would accomplish something positive?
I would leave it alone for now. Sometimes, folks on Hospice improve to the extent that they "graduate" from Hospice and curative, non-palliative treatments can be tried.
If at that time her mind is clear, you can have a talk with her about the pros and cons of doing Hospice care again. I wouldn't bring it up right now.
Was the "stomach bug" ever diagnosed? Was that the reason for Hospice?
There will also be a CNA that will come in a few times a week to help bathe her and order supplies.
A social worker and chaplain may also visit.
You do not need to accept the services of the CNA, social worker or chaplain. The only one that is required to make visits is the nurse.
But having the CNA is a great help. And it does make it easy to keep the proper supplies on hand.
You should know her better than anyone and you probably know what she would want. Some people want to know and some don't. Now if she isn't going to remember what you tell her than it would be no point in telling her. But if she knows what is going on, then she has the right to know, If you think she would want to know.
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