My 90-year-old dad was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a bone infection. He was in a nursing home for 6 wks of IV antibiotics. He had a heart attack and the hospital found he also has MRSA. His vascular surgeon said if he got an infection, there's nothing to do but try antibiotics and go on hospice. The infectious disease doctor wants him on vancomycin but the hospice people say that's too "aggressive" a treatment for him to go on hospice. Should I (POA) have them withhold all antibiotics in order to get him hospice care? Will Medicare still pay if I do that? Dad has dementia and now COPD, too, and he's ready to pass on. Has anyone else been in this situation or similar?
That being said to answer the original question why would you want to put an old man who is ready to die through this kind of treatment. Are you surprised when a family member dies on her way to chemo treatment? or dialysis?
It is wonderful to know that life sustaining forms of treatment are available in this modern age. In the case of the patient with osteomyelitis treating would probably hasten death or at least prolong it.
MYRSA has appeared in recent years due to the overuse (by us,Yes you and me) of antibiotics and Drs willingness to prescribe them. How often does a young mother take her child to the pediatrician and demand an antibiotic for a simple cold which is well known to be a simple viral infection. Her explanation is that they won't let her baby go back to daycare without it.
MYRSA is referred to as a hospital acquired infection. This is largely the case but how about the magazines in the Drs waiting room you have no idea who handled them last. Everyone should protect themselves when out in public by carefull hand washing. using a paper towel to tough door handles etc
Hospice care is about keeping patients comfortable at the end of life preferably in their own homes cared for by the people they love with the expert assistance of hospice nurses. It is at is a patient directed plan of care. Things are explained to the patient and their caregivers but the patient is in charge. If the patient says NO that is the answer. It is true that antibiotics are rarely used. It is a choice for example with a UTI. Treatments that are already in use may or may not be continued for example with dialysis until it becomes too much of an effort for the patient to continue. Dietary restrictions are not usually followed except in the case of Diabetics .If the patient is able to eat he/she can have anything. hospice care us usually covered by most major medical insurance. Medicare and Medicaid. You don't have to die within six months, as long as your condition progresses, although you have to be certified by the Hospice medical director at certain intervals you can continue. There is also a self pay option which is income related. All this is complicated but there is a social worker to work through the maize. Religious needs are also met if and only if desired. Hospice depends a lot on contributions to continue so has to have fund raisers through the year. There is also a big group of volunteers who are specially trained to provide respite run errand do light housework and transport mobile patients to Dr visits. If you reach a plateau and want to leave Hospice that is fine too, you are always welcome back. Don't be afraid to talk to them someone will visit the home or you can go to the office and meet there if you don't want to alarm your loved one. Don't be afraid
The meetings with the entire family never happened, the chaplain came and essentially told him she was whatever religion he wanted her to be, and many times the nurses would not show up when they were supposed to and they insisted that my husband leave work to come meet with them (often they were an hour late).
One day my husband gets a call at work from the hospice social worker who asked him, "hey, how much does your dad have in his bank account? Yeah, well that will cover him for a couple of months, we're talking him into the nursing home and he is going." We were told he had about 6 weeks or less to live.
I asked them about the 90 day stay through medicare and was told that only worked if he stayed 3 days in the hospital. My FIL waited until they left, called my husband and said, "take me to the hospital."
Well, needless to say this did not set well with the Hospice workers who informed my husband his dad should have not went to the hospital to begin with. He stayed 3 days in the hospital, one week in a geriatric mental facility and is now going on month 3 in rehab (where he participates in physical therapy every day but Sunday).
When he was at the mental facility, we were told outright that there were tests that would not be done on him as long as Hospice was involved. We got Hospice removed and he not only received additional tests but additional treatments.
His legs were not being properly taken care of by Hospice nurses (they asked at the hospital if he had received skin grafts they were so bad). His legs are now almost cleared up.
Oh -- one additional thing that Hospice is really good at is keeping patients doped out of their brain. My FIL was being given pain meds like candy (to the point he was becoming addicted). When I explained to the hospitals that he has an addictive personality and once struggled with alcohol and still with gambling, they went on a step down program for him.
Even with physical therapy, he now only receives a pain pill when he needs it.
He went to the hospital a couple of weeks ago and they said his kidney function is severly decreasing. They suggested we call Hospice back. We told them, "no thank you."
Our family is not the only one who has regretted ever being involved with Hospice. I know you hear glowing stories but it is by far not everyone's experience. I had heard wonderful reports from friends whose loved ones were dying and how Hospice made everything so easy and wonderful. We never used Hospice for my dad or grandparents, so this was our first experience with a direct family member. It will be our last Hospice experience too.
If you have faith, pray on it. You will make the right decision from a position of love and kindness. Whatever your choice do not second guess yourself.
God Bless,
L