Re: Hospice

December 2, 2004

,

Hospice usually makes an evalutaion along with your physician. In my

dad's case, they were invaluable. If you think they can help, please

don't hesitate.

Keeping you in my thoughts...

Lynn

>

> I think mom is entering her final stage of LBD. Does anyone know

when is it

> appropriate to request hospice? Her vital signs are fine but she

has stopped

> walking even with a walker, doesn't want to get out of bed and is

refusing to

> eat. Thank you for any help.

>

December 3, 2004

,

There are many hospices in your area if it like most areas. I did not

have to go to the MD to ask Hospice to come and check and evaluate Mom.

You can go on the internet and search for Hospices and it will help you

know what you might expect. If you know someone in your area who has

used Hospice, you might get their opinion on how well they liked them.

A Social Worker will come out and make an evaluation. They will be most

helpful and supportive in making any decisions you may need to make. If

they refuse services, then you can go to an MD and get written notice of

the length of time she may have left, which could make them have to give

you service.

This is where the stages comes in handy as that is what they use to

evaluate.

They will ask questions like can she walk, is she eating, ect.

Please take everyones advice and at least make the call. It is so

supportive and helpful at a very difficult time.

Donna R

Do you want to read more about Lewy Body? You can also read the

Thistle, the LBD Newsletter. Just click on:

http://www.lbda.org

December 8, 2004

Hello Sharon and all.......hospice can be used for planning for how to deal with

whatever may come up later as a disease progresses...you need to have the

doctor;s order for hospice and they will evaluate the person and try to see if

you and all are at the point where you are ready to make decisions..........

like if a LBD patient gets pneumonia...are you going to hospitalize and treat

that or are you going to let nature run it;s course..........you can also go on

to hospice and remove it later....but there may be financial consequences or you

may have a hard time getting back on unless you , the doctor and hospice see the

reasons together........

when my father passed away from lung cancer and PD this year, I would have loved

to use hospice earlier......but there are things not paid for under hospice that

I needed Medicare and the insurance to pay ..... and then there are doctors who

just won't sign for hospice till it's lost a lot of it's value to the

patient....they feel you are giving up....and they lose control of the patient

(hospice provides it's own physicians...they come to the house even) and the

money the patient generates for them at end stage ...............TG

Re: Hospice

Sharon,

I didn't know that hospice wasn't just end-stage. Let us know what they

say.

LadySmilingAtU@... wrote:

> stephanie,

> i just requested hospice for my dad, he has had sudden decline and unable

> to make it too the bathroom and walking has become more and more difficult

but

> i am not sure how close to hte end he is, but that it is extremely diffiuclt

> for us . our doctor told us that hospice is not limited to those with

imminent

> death immediately but for those who have decided that they wish not to be

> treated for their current medical problems and are unable to care for

themselves

> and their loved ones need assistance. this will keep daddy from going to

the

> hosptial ; good luck sharon

> a smile a day keeps the meanies away!!!

> laughter is a breath of fresh air!

Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

December 8, 2004

hi there,

dads md wanted a hospice eval months ago on dad, esp as i am disabled myslef

and have a 10lb wieght limit for picking up, pushing pulling etc. dad has

stated along time ago, to not use means to keep him alive, and he abhors going

to

the doctor etc, and guess what gang, our nurse has anohter pensacola patient

with LBD, so they are aware of its ups and downs, YIPEEEEE but i am also

gonna give the printout that was given at the first c/g meeting. just for

additional information. our eval is today at 1100 so we shall seehow it goes,

they

are willing to come out here and order whatever is necessary for dad ie hospital

bed,etc that is one of the main reason i wanted an eval with hospice. i

will let you all know how it goesbut my best friend like a sister has come in

from south carolina (shannon) to help me regain some order and cleanliness to

this house, since hurricane ivan hit and i sitll dont have my florida room back

i

have stuff EVERYWHERE, so she is gonna help me organize and make it spotless

for me to start with. she is so sweet to do this for me, i just cant and

donnie is working 50+ hours a week so he can not help as much as he likes right

now, take care all hugs sharon m

a smile a day keeps the meanies away!!!

laughter is a breath of fresh air!

March 4, 2005

Hi Bob,

This must be very hard for you to see. You are in my

thoughts and prayers. I pray for your wife's comfort

and for her release from this dreadful disease soon. I

pray for your strength through it all. Peace be with

you............Jan Colello

--- Bob Winstead wrote:

>

> Just to let the older ones that has been on this

> journey, I had to

> call in hospice for my wife, Judy, today as she is

> not responding to

> anything. Her Dr has taken her off of all her LBD

> medicine and she

> hasn't eaten anything except some soup, ice cream

> and some juices

> for over 2 wks. Sleeps almost 100 % of the time,

> we only got 1/3

> of a medicine cup of water down her today. Dr said

> about 6 mos or

> less and I believe less if she continue on as today.

> Keep her in

> your prayers that this thing can end soon... Bob

> Winstead Nashville

> Tn

>

__________________________________

Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!

Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/

March 5, 2005

I haven't been on the site long but wish you peace & courage in the months to

come.

Lets hope nature is kind sooner rather than later.

My dad is 79 with LBD and also in hospital, he can seem so unresponsive but

always seems to 'come back' Sometimes though I wish his twilight world would

just end, how sad that we can feel like this but it's not a pretty illness.

Will keep yourself and wife Judy in my prayers.

Kathleen - Scotland.

Re: HOSPICE

You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

Courage

Bob Winstead wrote:

>

> Just to let the older ones that has been on this journey, I had to

> call in hospice for my wife, Judy, today as she is not responding to

> anything. Her Dr has taken her off of all her LBD medicine and she

> hasn't eaten anything except some soup, ice cream and some juices

> for over 2 wks. Sleeps almost 100 % of the time, we only got 1/3

> of a medicine cup of water down her today. Dr said about 6 mos or

> less and I believe less if she continue on as today. Keep her in

> your prayers that this thing can end soon... Bob Winstead Nashville

> Tn

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

March 5, 2005

Hi Bob

I am sorry you have to go through this. I will be thinking of you and Judy and

hope that Judy will be free of LBD soon.

Kath in Toronto

Kathleen and McElroy wrote: