Guest guest Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 Great news. Hospice was wonderful to us! They came two times a week at first for bathing, but as dads bowels became uncontrollable they bathed him every day! They paid for his medicines and we also got a grant from elders affairs for almost all of our monthly supplies of bedpads, neosporin, diapers, baby powder, gloves, bandAidsn plus meals on wheels our copay was only 74$ a month. It was wonderful! Take advantage of any program that you can. Oh yeah the 74$ also included 24 hours a week of respite care! It as great!! Good luck hugs. Sharon Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device Re: Hospice My mother's been accepted by hospice! Don't know yet all they intend to do for us - but when my sister was visiting yesterday afternoon a nurse arrived to check mom's vitals and then to ask if we'd like to set up a volunteer for weekly visits (YES!) Will let you know what they plan to do for helping us in our situation. And to remind you all - my mother is in a NH. She's not bed-ridden, but in a wheelchair. She's not eating pureed or mashed foods (except for the ground meat, her meals are normal). Everything else she needs assistance with (bathroom, dressing, getting around, etc.) In regards to her cognitive skills she can't have conversations - she only answers with yes/no most of the time - but once in awhile will surprise us by getting a phrase or two out of her mouth... And Kathy S. provided me with a Hospice Criteria file and I added it to the Files section since it's in PDF - go check it out. Chances are we're all so hesitant to request help from Hospice (maybe b/c we feel our LO won't be eligible, maybe we feel we're giving up and throwing the towel in, maybe we're scared of the 6 month rule - my thoughts: the more help, the better my mother is!) Yay! Imagine how helpful Hospice would be for those of you who provide 24/7 care! And for those of you who are long distance caregivers whose LO is in a NH! ; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally diagnosed with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was victim to rapid decline from Risperidone (or combination of Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad drug " when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since 11/05. Update: on antidepressant Celexa, 20mg (still teary, but not as weepy) and as of 4/21 on Exelon. Visit the LBDCaregivers board on the web: http://groups.: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/> yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/ (See files, suggested links, databases, photos of members, and search previous posts) > > Speaking of hospice - my mother is being assessed today to see if she > is eligible. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 My mother's been accepted by hospice! Don't know yet all they intend to do for us - but when my sister was visiting yesterday afternoon a nurse arrived to check mom's vitals and then to ask if we'd like to set up a volunteer for weekly visits (YES!) Will let you know what they plan to do for helping us in our situation. And to remind you all - my mother is in a NH. She's not bed-ridden, but in a wheelchair. She's not eating pureed or mashed foods (except for the ground meat, her meals are normal). Everything else she needs assistance with (bathroom, dressing, getting around, etc.) In regards to her cognitive skills she can't have conversations - she only answers with yes/no most of the time - but once in awhile will surprise us by getting a phrase or two out of her mouth... And Kathy S. provided me with a Hospice Criteria file and I added it to the Files section since it's in PDF - go check it out. Chances are we're all so hesitant to request help from Hospice (maybe b/c we feel our LO won't be eligible, maybe we feel we're giving up and throwing the towel in, maybe we're scared of the 6 month rule - my thoughts: the more help, the better my mother is!) Yay! Imagine how helpful Hospice would be for those of you who provide 24/7 care! And for those of you who are long distance caregivers whose LO is in a NH! ; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally diagnosed with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was victim to rapid decline from Risperidone (or combination of Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad drug " when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since 11/05. Update: on antidepressant Celexa, 20mg (still teary, but not as weepy) and as of 4/21 on Exelon. Visit the LBDCaregivers board on the web: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/ (See files, suggested links, databases, photos of members, and search previous posts) > > Speaking of hospice - my mother is being assessed today to see if she > is eligible. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 , Congratulations on getting Hospice for your mother. The way I see it, it is an additional support for her and you. Also an extra set of eyes overseeing the NH care. My father seems to respond positively to them and their manner and approach is very good with him. So far, my father has not declined to where they are having to do alot for him right now. But we are all developing a relationship and I think that is important for whatever the future may hold. It can't hurt to have a partner in this process. Daughter of Bill, 91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 Glad to hear the good news. Now only does you Mom get help, but so do you and your sister. The Social Worker should be available to help you both with decisions and be there as a support. I know I liked that part. I think the 6 month rule is not as significant with dementia patients, as they are starting to understand time has less to do with our Loved ones. Donna R Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th year in a nh. She was almost 89 when she died in '02 No dx other than mine. Re: Hospice My mother's been accepted by hospice! Don't know yet all they intend to do for us - but when my sister was visiting yesterday afternoon a nurse arrived to check mom's vitals and then to ask if we'd like to set up a volunteer for weekly visits (YES!) Will let you know what they plan to do for helping us in our situation. And to remind you all - my mother is in a NH. She's not bed-ridden, but in a wheelchair. She's not eating pureed or mashed foods (except for the ground meat, her meals are normal). Everything else she needs assistance with (bathroom, dressing, getting around, etc.) In regards to her cognitive skills she can't have conversations - she only answers with yes/no most of the time - but once in awhile will surprise us by getting a phrase or two out of her mouth... And Kathy S. provided me with a Hospice Criteria file and I added it to the Files section since it's in PDF - go check it out. Chances are we're all so hesitant to request help from Hospice (maybe b/c we feel our LO won't be eligible, maybe we feel we're giving up and throwing the towel in, maybe we're scared of the 6 month rule - my thoughts: the more help, the better my mother is!) Yay! Imagine how helpful Hospice would be for those of you who provide 24/7 care! And for those of you who are long distance caregivers whose LO is in a NH! ; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally diagnosed with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was victim to rapid decline from Risperidone (or combination of Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad drug " when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since 11/05. Update: on antidepressant Celexa, 20mg (still teary, but not as weepy) and as of 4/21 on Exelon. Visit the LBDCaregivers board on the web: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/ (See files, suggested links, databases, photos of members, and search previous posts) > > Speaking of hospice - my mother is being assessed today to see if she > is eligible. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 Thanks for the info. My Mom is now on Exelon, Sinemet, and my Dad likes to give her .5 mg of the Ativan to help with the tremors. He also gives it to her when she can't sleep the doctors say that it is O.K. I try to tell him that I don't think it is good but he still gives it to her. They started the Sinemet this week to try to help with the tremors and with the problems she is having eating and drinking. I hope it helps. Susie Scarff wrote: Hi, Ativan has the opposite effect on most dementia patients, meaning it will calm us down but could throw a dementia patient into a major state of agitation. I found out the hard way when my husbands Primary care DR had me giving my husband massive doses. Finally after chasing him down the middle of the street for the 12 time, etc, I decided this was not the med for us. Instead I took them The ER's don't even understand this issue. Duh They are all very uneducated with it comes to dementia and meds. Susie2 Re: Re: Hospice Hello, Can someone please tell me why Ativan/lorazepam is a bad medicine for LBD patients? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Spoke with the social worker from Hospice for the first time yesterday. She will be visiting my mother every week and calling me after her visits to let me know how she is. She knows my usual schedule for visits so will plan to meet with me during one of my visits. The team is a social worker, a nurse (who will visit and check vitals), a Chaplain (I let them know how religious mom is and mom will certainly benefit from the Chaplain's visits), and a volunteer for visits. (Also a home health aide is part of the team, but don't think she's part of mom's team -- maybe later?) Every 3 months they'll assess mom to make sure she's still eligible. Don't know what meds that mom's on will be covered by Hospice yet. I also don't know if they intend to provide me with a report of sorts -- would like to get something like that via email -- just so I know what's going on. Will have to request something like that. PS -- on a side note, mom now has a sty on her eye (or a pimple? or bug bite?) Her eyelid is all red and swollen. Always something... But my visit last night was good. Mom seemed more alert (and it was an after work visit when she's usually falling asleep in her food) - maybe the lotion at night is working. She read my T-shirt ( " Rockport, Massachusetts " ) You know what, I'm going to look into some flash cards -- maybe that would help with mom's communicating... Hmmmmm.... > > My mother's been accepted by hospice! Don't know yet all they intend > to do for us - but when my sister was visiting yesterday afternoon a > nurse arrived to check mom's vitals and then to ask if we'd like to > set up a volunteer for weekly visits (YES!) Will let you know what > they plan to do for helping us in our situation. > > And to remind you all - my mother is in a NH. She's not bed-ridden, > but in a wheelchair. She's not eating pureed or mashed foods (except > for the ground meat, her meals are normal). Everything else she needs > assistance with (bathroom, dressing, getting around, etc.) In regards > to her cognitive skills she can't have conversations - she only > answers with yes/no most of the time - but once in awhile will > surprise us by getting a phrase or two out of her mouth... > > And Kathy S. provided me with a Hospice Criteria file and I added it > to the Files section since it's in PDF - go check it out. Chances are > we're all so hesitant to request help from Hospice (maybe b/c we feel > our LO won't be eligible, maybe we feel we're giving up and throwing > the towel in, maybe we're scared of the 6 month rule - my thoughts: > the more help, the better my mother is!) > > Yay! > > Imagine how helpful Hospice would be for those of you who provide > 24/7 care! And for those of you who are long distance caregivers > whose LO is in a NH! > > ; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally diagnosed > with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD > to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was > victim to rapid decline from Risperidone (or combination of > Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad drug " > when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since > 11/05. Update: on antidepressant Celexa, 20mg (still teary, but not > as weepy) and as of 4/21 on Exelon. > > Visit the LBDCaregivers board on the web: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/ > (See files, suggested links, databases, photos of members, and search > previous posts) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 - My Dad was on Hospice for almost 2 yrs. As you stated, the pt. is reaccessed every 3 months. If the pt. does not decline, the he/she can be discharged from hospice care. My Dad's nurse was worried that Dad could be discharged. I kept a running diary for her of his falls, incontinece, decreased appetite, etc. She even put my Dad's quotes in her documentation. One of them was when Dad showed her his arms and said " I am getting so thin. " When Dad's case was reviewed, she was told that her excellent documentation saved my Dad from being discharged. With LBD there are sometimes plateaus (sp) where the pt. appears stabalized. Also there is showtime, which could easily fool the observer. So my advice is to create a journal and I know. , that you are great at this, but make sure you share it with the hopice RN Gerry Daughter & caregiver for Dick Deverell who passed away 9/11/05 after a more than 4 yr. battle with LBD. Re: Hospice Spoke with the social worker from Hospice for the first time yesterday. She will be visiting my mother every week and calling me after her visits to let me know how she is. She knows my usual schedule for visits so will plan to meet with me during one of my visits. The team is a social worker, a nurse (who will visit and check vitals), a Chaplain (I let them know how religious mom is and mom will certainly benefit from the Chaplain's visits), and a volunteer for visits. (Also a home health aide is part of the team, but don't think she's part of mom's team -- maybe later?) Every 3 months they'll assess mom to make sure she's still eligible. Don't know what meds that mom's on will be covered by Hospice yet. I also don't know if they intend to provide me with a report of sorts -- would like to get something like that via email -- just so I know what's going on. Will have to request something like that. PS -- on a side note, mom now has a sty on her eye (or a pimple? or bug bite?) Her eyelid is all red and swollen. Always something... But my visit last night was good. Mom seemed more alert (and it was an after work visit when she's usually falling asleep in her food) - maybe the lotion at night is working. She read my T-shirt ( " Rockport, Massachusetts " ) You know what, I'm going to look into some flash cards -- maybe that would help with mom's communicating... Hmmmmm.... > > My mother's been accepted by hospice! Don't know yet all they intend > to do for us - but when my sister was visiting yesterday afternoon a > nurse arrived to check mom's vitals and then to ask if we'd like to > set up a volunteer for weekly visits (YES!) Will let you know what > they plan to do for helping us in our situation. > > And to remind you all - my mother is in a NH. She's not bed-ridden, > but in a wheelchair. She's not eating pureed or mashed foods (except > for the ground meat, her meals are normal). Everything else she needs > assistance with (bathroom, dressing, getting around, etc.) In regards > to her cognitive skills she can't have conversations - she only > answers with yes/no most of the time - but once in awhile will > surprise us by getting a phrase or two out of her mouth... > > And Kathy S. provided me with a Hospice Criteria file and I added it > to the Files section since it's in PDF - go check it out. Chances are > we're all so hesitant to request help from Hospice (maybe b/c we feel > our LO won't be eligible, maybe we feel we're giving up and throwing > the towel in, maybe we're scared of the 6 month rule - my thoughts: > the more help, the better my mother is!) > > Yay! > > Imagine how helpful Hospice would be for those of you who provide > 24/7 care! And for those of you who are long distance caregivers > whose LO is in a NH! > > ; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally diagnosed > with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD > to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was > victim to rapid decline from Risperidone (or combination of > Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad drug " > when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since > 11/05. Update: on antidepressant Celexa, 20mg (still teary, but not > as weepy) and as of 4/21 on Exelon. > > Visit the LBDCaregivers board on the web: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/ > (See files, suggested links, databases, photos of members, and search > previous posts) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Wanted to give you all a status update on what Hospice has been doing for us: * The team is led by a Psychosocial Manager. I've communicated with her and what's going to happen is that everyone who is part of mom's team will email me after their visits to give me status updates. * Then there is the Social Worker who visits weekly. She has called me after her visits -- although right now she is on vacation in Africa working with orphaned HIV children -- since my mom used to be an AIDS Action Buddy, I'm sure they may have some stories to share. * Then there is the Nurse who also visits weekly and so far he's visited my mom the same day as I'm there so we communicate face to face. He told me that unless I wanted to change mom's meds to generic forms that they would not be covered - and since she's on insurance will just keep things the same. He ordered mom a new wheelchair that has a headrest through Hospice. He is coordinating a Home Health Aide to come in and work on walking with mom. * Then there is the Home Health Aide -- just informed yesterday that she will begin working with mom too -- to 'walk' with her with the walker. So that will be in addition to mom's daily (M-F) walks with the NH. Awesome! * Then there is the Chaplain -- she just visited my mom for the first time about a week ago. She emailed me after her visit to let me know that she was there (this is great b/c mom gets extra people visiting her and she's so much better when she is engaged one-on-one and since they let me know of their visits I can keep track when people are with mom). I informed this Chaplain that mom is very religious so expect that she will do prayers with mom, which mom will enjoy. * Then there is a Volunteer -- unfortunately this team member hasn't begun yet -- they're still looking for a volunteer to match up to mom. In the summer they have limited volunteers due to vacations, etc. But they will inform me when a Volunteer has been put in place. And hopefully it will work out to be a day that mom doesn't get a definite visit from either myself or other family. I let the team know about LBD - gave them brochures about the disease. Let them know about LBD's fluctuations and mom's history (so when she's having these " Naranja " moments they won't think she's suddenly cured). Informed them about the 'guest book' in mom's room and that they can read it whenever they want. So -- needless to say, Hospice has been God-send. And I hope that when it's time for mom to be reassessed that Hospice can continue to be part of mom's team. She'll get reassessed every 3 months. And once again... this is covered by Medicare. Dementia had recently become one of the diseases that is covered by Hospice -- so I highly recommend all of you just looking into it. You may be pleasantly surprised that your LO is eligible -- and although the word " hospice " tends to bring negative emotions, I feel mom is lucky to have so many more people on her team. " Go Mo! Go Mo! " (PS that last phrase was b/c when my mom learned how to swim for the first time in her mid-60s she competed in a swimming race for seniors and her sister made signs that read " Go Mo! Go Mo! " LOL) > > > > My mother's been accepted by hospice! Don't know yet all they > intend > > to do for us - but when my sister was visiting yesterday afternoon > a > > nurse arrived to check mom's vitals and then to ask if we'd like to > > set up a volunteer for weekly visits (YES!) Will let you know what > > they plan to do for helping us in our situation. > > > > And to remind you all - my mother is in a NH. She's not bed- ridden, > > but in a wheelchair. She's not eating pureed or mashed foods > (except > > for the ground meat, her meals are normal). Everything else she > needs > > assistance with (bathroom, dressing, getting around, etc.) In > regards > > to her cognitive skills she can't have conversations - she only > > answers with yes/no most of the time - but once in awhile will > > surprise us by getting a phrase or two out of her mouth... > > > > And Kathy S. provided me with a Hospice Criteria file and I added > it > > to the Files section since it's in PDF - go check it out. Chances > are > > we're all so hesitant to request help from Hospice (maybe b/c we > feel > > our LO won't be eligible, maybe we feel we're giving up and > throwing > > the towel in, maybe we're scared of the 6 month rule - my thoughts: > > the more help, the better my mother is!) > > > > Yay! > > > > Imagine how helpful Hospice would be for those of you who provide > > 24/7 care! And for those of you who are long distance caregivers > > whose LO is in a NH! > > > > ; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally > diagnosed > > with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD > > to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was > > victim to rapid decline from Risperidone (or combination of > > Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad > drug " > > when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since > > 11/05. Update: on antidepressant Celexa, 20mg (still teary, but not > > as weepy) and as of 4/21 on Exelon. > > > > Visit the LBDCaregivers board on the web: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/ > > (See files, suggested links, databases, photos of members, and > search > > previous posts) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 You are so fortunate , Our Hospice wasn't even close to that. The most I got was a SW that visited me pretty regularly. A nurse if I insisted I needed something and a chaplain that was sporatic at best. The aid that rarely showed up to shower her 3 xs a week, usually didn't show. Glad you are doing so well. Donna R Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th year in a nh. She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine. Re: Hospice Wanted to give you all a status update on what Hospice has been doing for us: * The team is led by a Psychosocial Manager. I've communicated with her and what's going to happen is that everyone who is part of mom's team will email me after their visits to give me status updates. * Then there is the Social Worker who visits weekly. She has called me after her visits -- although right now she is on vacation in Africa working with orphaned HIV children -- since my mom used to be an AIDS Action Buddy, I'm sure they may have some stories to share. * Then there is the Nurse who also visits weekly and so far he's visited my mom the same day as I'm there so we communicate face to face. He told me that unless I wanted to change mom's meds to generic forms that they would not be covered - and since she's on insurance will just keep things the same. He ordered mom a new wheelchair that has a headrest through Hospice. He is coordinating a Home Health Aide to come in and work on walking with mom. * Then there is the Home Health Aide -- just informed yesterday that she will begin working with mom too -- to 'walk' with her with the walker. So that will be in addition to mom's daily (M-F) walks with the NH. Awesome! * Then there is the Chaplain -- she just visited my mom for the first time about a week ago. She emailed me after her visit to let me know that she was there (this is great b/c mom gets extra people visiting her and she's so much better when she is engaged one-on-one and since they let me know of their visits I can keep track when people are with mom). I informed this Chaplain that mom is very religious so expect that she will do prayers with mom, which mom will enjoy. * Then there is a Volunteer -- unfortunately this team member hasn't begun yet -- they're still looking for a volunteer to match up to mom. In the summer they have limited volunteers due to vacations, etc. But they will inform me when a Volunteer has been put in place. And hopefully it will work out to be a day that mom doesn't get a definite visit from either myself or other family. I let the team know about LBD - gave them brochures about the disease. Let them know about LBD's fluctuations and mom's history (so when she's having these " Naranja " moments they won't think she's suddenly cured). Informed them about the 'guest book' in mom's room and that they can read it whenever they want. So -- needless to say, Hospice has been God-send. And I hope that when it's time for mom to be reassessed that Hospice can continue to be part of mom's team. She'll get reassessed every 3 months. And once again... this is covered by Medicare. Dementia had recently become one of the diseases that is covered by Hospice -- so I highly recommend all of you just looking into it. You may be pleasantly surprised that your LO is eligible -- and although the word " hospice " tends to bring negative emotions, I feel mom is lucky to have so many more people on her team. " Go Mo! Go Mo! " (PS that last phrase was b/c when my mom learned how to swim for the first time in her mid-60s she competed in a swimming race for seniors and her sister made signs that read " Go Mo! Go Mo! " LOL) > > > > My mother's been accepted by hospice! Don't know yet all they > intend > > to do for us - but when my sister was visiting yesterday afternoon > a > > nurse arrived to check mom's vitals and then to ask if we'd like to > > set up a volunteer for weekly visits (YES!) Will let you know what > > they plan to do for helping us in our situation. > > > > And to remind you all - my mother is in a NH. She's not bed- ridden, > > but in a wheelchair. She's not eating pureed or mashed foods > (except > > for the ground meat, her meals are normal). Everything else she > needs > > assistance with (bathroom, dressing, getting around, etc.) In > regards > > to her cognitive skills she can't have conversations - she only > > answers with yes/no most of the time - but once in awhile will > > surprise us by getting a phrase or two out of her mouth... > > > > And Kathy S. provided me with a Hospice Criteria file and I added > it > > to the Files section since it's in PDF - go check it out. Chances > are > > we're all so hesitant to request help from Hospice (maybe b/c we > feel > > our LO won't be eligible, maybe we feel we're giving up and > throwing > > the towel in, maybe we're scared of the 6 month rule - my thoughts: > > the more help, the better my mother is!) > > > > Yay! > > > > Imagine how helpful Hospice would be for those of you who provide > > 24/7 care! And for those of you who are long distance caregivers > > whose LO is in a NH! > > > > ; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally > diagnosed > > with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD > > to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was > > victim to rapid decline from Risperidone (or combination of > > Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad > drug " > > when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since > > 11/05. Update: on antidepressant Celexa, 20mg (still teary, but not > > as weepy) and as of 4/21 on Exelon. > > > > Visit the LBDCaregivers board on the web: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/ > > (See files, suggested links, databases, photos of members, and > search > > previous posts) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Really? I didn't realize... I'll count my blessings then! Maybe b/c mom is in a NH and they visit w/ a # of patients in the same building that we're so lucky... Gave the brochure to another woman whose mother is on the same floor as my mom... I'll have to see if she was accepted... I won't take it for granted though - and who knows if it'll last... Maybe I better go ahead and order an Edible Arrangements for the Hospice team to let them know that they're appreciated!! www.ediblearrangements.com > > You are so fortunate , > > Our Hospice wasn't even close to that. The most I got was a SW that visited me pretty regularly. A nurse if I insisted I needed something and a chaplain that was sporatic at best. The aid that rarely showed up to shower her 3 xs a week, usually didn't show. > > Glad you are doing so well. > > Donna R > > Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th year in a nh. > She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Hi all, Being a hospice nurse, I have to jump in here. Hospice regs are determined at a national level, with the " interpretation " at the provider level. This means that from hospice to hospice, the services provided may differ. For the most part, the plan of care should have the input of family included, so if you aren't getting what you need-- ask. The " case manager " in hospice is the nurse, so you should see or hear from the nurse on a regular basis, no matter where the person lives. I do know that the " for-profit " hospices tend to cut corners, but they will vehemently deny this (cutting corners could mean Medicare fraud) Dodie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 dodie, thank you for sharing that much needed information. we used hospice of emerald coast which is the 'smaller' of the 2 hospice associations here in pensacola. and they are not for profit (they both are ) and i would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone in the area taht needs hospice service. hugs, sharon m -- Daugher of Leonard, diag May 2004, had lbd since 1993, had hip surgery from fall 7/05, aspiration pneumonia 7/05 with pulmonary embolyis, had aspiration pneumonia and uti 8/05, died of blood pressure drop on 9/25/05, may he rest in peace with his mom and dad, a smile a day keeps the meanies away ---- dodie1528 wrote: Hi all, Being a hospice nurse, I have to jump in here. Hospice regs are determined at a national level, with the " interpretation " at the provider level. This means that from hospice to hospice, the services provided may differ. For the most part, the plan of care should have the input of family included, so if you aren't getting what you need-- ask. The " case manager " in hospice is the nurse, so you should see or hear from the nurse on a regular basis, no matter where the person lives. I do know that the " for-profit " hospices tend to cut corners, but they will vehemently deny this (cutting corners could mean Medicare fraud) Dodie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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