Mom's been going downhill. She is in end stage CHF and is 94. Lives alone but not really. Myself and siblings take turns. At most she is alone 8 hours. Her legs are now weeping and blistered from fluid retention. She takes 240 mg of furosemide daily now but it's not doing much. So I finaly had mom agree to let a hospice come for consult. Dr recommended Bayada. Has anyone used them firstly, and can anyone help me with questions I should ask them during consult? What do I need to know and what's most important? Thank you
Sorry, I should have said "when the body starts to shut down food and water may be stopped" Once the body starts to shut down trying to give food and water may do more harm then good. This is not starving the person, its the body getting ready.
Thanks Grandma and Alva.
What is most important to your mother?
What are you expecting of hospice?
I think, if I were doing this now, I would insist on being given time to reflect before helping my mother with the decision. If at any stage you feel rushed or treated as if you're asking silly questions... narrow your eyes at them and don't get bulldozed. Recommended or not, there are other providers.
Poor lady, she must feel dreadful, and dreadfully tired. I hope the recommended provider is able to offer you both peace of mind that she will be taken very good care of.
When you say food and water will be stopped that makes it sound like Hospice will stop food and water.
When the patient stops eating and drinking that is when food and water stop.
Hospice will not put in a feeding tube or IV's. A patient that is coming onto Hospice with a feeding tube Hospice will maintain it, will provide nutrition supplements for it. Hospice will not start an IV for hydration.
there are 2 types of Hospice
FOR profit
NOT for profit.
Interview both.
Interview them just like you would any other medical service.
If you are not happy with one you select you can call another and switch if you want or discontinue Hospice all together.
The first Nurse u will see is the admitting nurse. She will ask all the questions concerning the client. She is the one who also should be telling you what to expect and what is offered. She is the one you ask your initial questions. You may never see this person again. You will get another nurse that checks in on Mom 2 or 3x a week. She should be available by phone 24/7. She should also be ordering any supplies and prescriptions needed. That means Depends, wipes, chuks (covers to protect the bed or chair) a hospital bed, ect. You also will get an aide 2 or 3x a week. In my area its usually an hour to bathe the person. There was a poster that said she was able to get an aide for 4 hrs, I think a day. So this would be my question, how many hours can you supply for an aide. You will need the time that the aide is present to run errands or for downtime.
Be aware that in home Hospice the family does most of the care. They are taught how to administer medications. With someone like your Mom, someone has to be with her 24/7. Mom will not be able to be transported to a hospital. By getting Hospice you have agreed this is the end of life care. A DNR will need to be signed so no measures are taken to save her life.
I suggest when you interview someone is there with you. That way if you miss something in the explaining, the other person may have picked it up. Really anyone who will be involved in her care should be there. We have so many posters that are distraught over the Hospice care of a LO only for us to explain that is how Hospice works. Hospice means your LO is going to die. No extreme measures will be taken to keep them alive. Please go into this with open ears and eyes. And ask the Nurse questions. You have a right to know whats going on.
While hospice is end of life care it is end of life in so far as recognition that the patient cannot any longer benefit from intervention, testing, curative measures. It recognizes that the patient suffers from a terminal condition and is likely to die, but it does nothing to MAKE the patient die. Removal of food and water would do just that. It is a method of suicide and hospice doesn't take part in suicide. So if the patient wishes food and fluids that is just fine. Many people are still alive at the end of the six months hospice care.
OP, let Hospice explain things to you. Be clear before they come that hospice is end of life care. Do look up hospice online and gather all the info you can and this will give you questions you may wish to ask.